CHAPTER VI 



CATTLE AND THE DAIRY 



ERY little farm livestock was kept in the 

 early days of the Colonies, though be- 

 9^\tSjff^^ fore the time Litchfield County was set- 

 /^^^ti^ tied enough had been imported from 

 England to furnish draft cattle for work 

 and cows to produce enough milk to meet the home de- 

 mands for fresh milk and for butter and cheese. There 

 were comparatively few areas suitable for hay, which 

 was so necessary to provide food for the livestock dur- 

 ing the long winters. As the fields were cleared of 

 forest and later of rocks, the amount of fodder grown 

 for winter use was increased, and the number and va- 

 riety of farm animals were gradually increased. 



The first barns were hewn-timber structures, loosely 

 covered, built mainly for the shelter of grain and 



[64] 



