50 



Indian corn will be well grown for soiling b}? the 10th or loth 

 of July ; anil will continue green, and in full sap until the last 

 of August. And in order to continue a supply of this rich green 

 food— to which probably no other vegetable of our country is 

 equal, especially for milch cows. Pieces of land may be plant- 

 ed in succession, so that some may be in full sap to the last of 

 September, when, in Essex, frosts usually strike the blades, and 

 greatly lessen their value. 



If there be a piece of rich mowing land in the farm, its sec- 

 ond or third crop will furnish green fodder to the middle or 

 last of October. Perhaps late sown oats, hardier plants than 

 Indian corn, may supply the place of grass. Pumpkins, also, 

 during this month and the next, will furnish a most valuable 

 food. 



All the sorts of fodder above mentioned, like the young grasses 

 of the spring, naturally dispose cattle to a degree of looseness, 

 though probably without injuring them. But if any of them 

 operate to an excess, a little good hay will furnish a useful cor- 

 rective. 



After November, potatoes, mangel wurtzel and carrots, ad- 

 ded plentifully to iheir dry fodder, even, ifthisboonly barley, 

 or oat straw, or wet or low ground meadow hay, will doubtless 

 keep cows in milch till within a few weeks of their calving.* 

 Cows, during the time of their going dry, and other stock at 

 all times, fully supplied with ruta baga, or common turnips, 

 with the same poor dry fodder, may be kept in high condition. 

 In England, cattle intended for beef are often fattened on wheat 

 straw and turnips, giving of the latter as many as they will eat. 

 They commence feeding in this manner in Autumn, and by the 

 spring the cattle are fat for the market. The cattle thus fatten- 

 ed, and in so short a time, are of moderate sizes. 



Rye, oats, barley and millet, when destined for soiling, should 

 be sown twice as thick as when intended to ripen their seeds. 



* An observing farmer, long ago expressed to me the opinion, that cows should go 

 dry five or six weeks before calving, to give time for the milk vessels to be dis- 

 tended, and the bag enlarged ; in the language of farmers, for the springing of the 

 bag. It was his opinion that the greater increase of milk after calving, would amp- 

 ly compensate the loss of going dry sO long- 



