62 THE farmer's guide. 



DRYING UP A COW. 



Bleed freely, and take half of the milk out of the bag 

 once a day, for 3 or 4 days, then give 2 oz. alum and 2 

 oz. rochealum in lukewarm water. Or, take one half of 

 the stomach of a fresh-killed calf, put it into 3 qts. water, 

 boil i an hour, add 1 oz. alum and i oz. ginger, and give 

 at one dose. Or, take 3 oz. green sage (or J oz. dry), 

 boil 10 minutes, add 1 gill fresh milk arid 1 oz. powdered 

 alum; let it stand until nearly cold, then bathe the bag 

 night and morning. If the bag is greatly distended, 

 draw away a small quantity of milk every morning. 



-TREATMENT OF CALVES. 



As soon as they are able to stand, they should be left 

 to follow the instincts which nature has implanted in 

 them. It is the most natural and economical, as well as 

 the least troublesome way to rear a calf, to let it run with 

 the cow until it is old enough to wean. A good cow will 

 thus rear two calves, provided they are all permitted to 

 range in -a fresh pasture or clover-field. If the calf is 

 destined for the market, he ought to have all the milk 

 of one cow, and if he craves more, milk-porridge or 

 thickened milk can be given him. He ought to be kept 

 until he is seven or eight weeks old. 



Many farmers dislike to have the calf run with the 

 cow ; in that case the calf ought to remain with the 

 mother long enough to learn how to draw the milk, 

 which he will generally do in two days, when he can be 

 kept so far from the cow that they can not hear each 

 other's call. Take fresh warm milk, apply the finger to 

 the mouth, and gently lead him to the vessel containing 

 the milk, and he will very soon learn to help himself. 

 The milk of the cow, for the first three days, except what 

 is given to the calf, is only fit for swine. If the new milk 

 is valuable, it will answer to gradually lessen the quan- 

 tity, and add skim-milk scalded and thickened with corn 

 or oat meal, with a little salt. 



If calves are troubled with lice, turn them among the 

 sheep for a few days, and they will disappear. Calves 

 require a dry, warm shelter, a good bed, and to be fed 

 three times a day. Their food should occasionally bo 



