134 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



March 



cated by practice, and not rely entirely on the ther- 

 mometer during tlie process of cheese-malvinf;, and 

 coni^idcrcil it essential tliattlie cliecse-makcr should 

 have a housewife as interested as himself in the 

 production of the best article. In one respect, his 

 practice ditfered a little from that of Mr. Lewis; he 

 cooled his milk in'a very large and shallow pan, 

 and never got enough cream to rise to make butter 

 for his owTi family. 



A discussion followed on the use of ice, which 

 was deprecated by Messrs. Smith, Lewis and Cur- 

 tis, and some other points of cheese-making, kept 

 up till it began to grow dark, when the Association 

 adjourned till evening. 



EVENING. 



The evening session was opened by a few re- 

 marks, at the request of the President, from 

 Governor Stewart. The evening was spent in talk, 

 mostly about fodder and soiling of cattle, and Mr. 

 Lewis and one or two others w'ere put through a 

 pretty severe catechizing. 



Mr. Smith, of Danby, had planted corn for fod- 

 der and obtained good results, when grass feed 

 failed. Mr. Lewis supporte^l his proposition that 

 grass could be raised to cut for fodder and was 

 better than corn. Mr. Parris of Fairfax, had ob- 

 tained much better results fi-om raising oats for 

 fodder than corn. 



Whether such a crop would pay, was discussed ; 

 and most agreed that a farmer must often raise 

 crops that don't pay, in dollars and cents. Mr. A. 

 Stowe of Westford, gave some details of an exper- 

 ment in raising both corn and oats for fodder. 

 That ditfercnt crops did better in different places, 

 must be conceded; and observation and experi- 

 ment will tell each man which he can raise best, 

 for the laws of nature are certain, and only by obey- 

 ing them can the best results be reached, in any 

 pursuit. 



FiUDAY, Jan. 20. 

 A paper on " The Natui-al History of Cattle," by 

 Prof. G. 11. Perkins of the University of Vermont, 

 was read by the Secretary. Describing some of the 

 anatomical characteristics of cattle, and the process 

 of digestion and nutrition, the writer spoke of the 

 dilfcrent animals used in different lands for milk, 

 and of the different qualities of milk to be obtained 

 from the cow. The Ayrshire cattle are held by 

 authorities to make the best rctunis for the dairy 

 upon the average, — the Jersey being too good for 

 ordinary purposes. The great majority of dairy 

 cows now arc of no one breed, but are the result of 

 crossing of many breeds. English and Dutch cat- 

 tle were imported very early. The best judges say 

 our dairy-stock is not imjjroving; if so, it becomes 

 an imjjortant question how to make a change in 

 this respect. Whether to improve the native cows, 

 or to use the high-bred imported races is yet to be 

 decided ; it will take diligent care and labor, but by 

 it the dairy interests of the country may be more 

 benefited perhaps than most will imagine. 



A paper was then read by E. R. Towle of St. Al- 

 bans, on the 



Management of Cows. 



lAHicthcr the breed be chosen with reference to 

 object of dairj' or not, the management is not al- 

 ways the best. Not so much attention has yet been 

 paid to the proper care of pastures, to the raising of 

 forage crops and other points. But few i)astures 

 will yield food enough for the whole season. Plen- 

 ty of good water should always be supi)lied. Many 

 details usually thought small, are really of great 

 importance. As fall comes on, cows need more at- 

 tention ; it will be found easier to kec]) them in con- 

 dition tlinn to regain their lost flesh in the spiing; 

 there is little fear of their getting too fat. Much of 

 the good results of the following season depends 

 on how cattle are kept during the winter. If milk 

 is ex])ectcd in quantity in Decemljcr, the cows 

 should be carefully fed; but whether the increased 

 care and expense will be profitable, is yet to be de- 

 termined. Most ftxrmers in our section feed but 

 twice a day, while cows are dry, to save time. 



As'tnilk-time comes on again, the quality of food 

 should be improved ; if they have not extra food 

 and care, decrease of milk will surelr follow. There 

 has been lately some improvement in managing 

 cows, slow but sure; and when an improvement 

 proves itself really such^ it will be adopted. 



A discussion followed on the question of stock. 

 Mr. Lewis thought it highly unportantfor the dairy 

 farmer to raise his own cows ; he discussed the 

 qualities of different breeds, and said he had found 

 grade Ayrshires to give the best results in butter 

 and cheese for a given amount of food. He was 

 raising both Ayrshires and Durhams ; Init thought 

 Ayrshires crossed ■with Devons might make a still 

 better breed. Mr. Lewis urged the value and' im- 

 portance of Farmers' Clubs. 



Col. Mead of Randolph, said we must raise a 

 breed that will be serviceable for beef when their 

 milking is gone; and for himself he was satisfied 

 that the short-horn was th } best. We can if we 

 will, breed a race of short-horns that shall l)e as 

 well known *s Vermont cattle, as Vermont sheep 

 and horses are, and as peeuliarlj' suited to our State 

 and its needs. 



Col. Mead of Randolph, moved that a vote of 

 thanks be given to Messrs. Lewis and Curtis of 

 New York, for their presence at this meeting, and 

 the great help and service to the Vermont Dairj'- 

 men's Association which they have rendered. The 

 motion was pi-omptly and heartily seconded by 

 Messrs. Douglas, Stone and Bliss, and was adopted 

 by a rising vote of the whole assembly. 



The Association then adjourned to meet at the 

 call of the Executive committee. Although neither 

 Governor Atwood of New York, nor Mr. Goodale 

 of Maine wei-e present, our correspondent, O. S. 

 Bliss, Esq., writes to us that the meeting was " a 

 splendid success." 



— The October Report of the foot and mouth dis- 

 ease in Great Britain, namCd 3002 centres of infec- 

 tion. In 30 days thereafter the centres of malady 

 had been lessened by 248. There would be stronger 

 hope of the malady being on the wane, if the local 

 authority was energetic in using preventive means 

 in all parts of the country. 



