6o Soiling. 



at the least possible outlay of her strength, and the 

 more basketsful of grass or forage she can make 

 way with in a day the more profitable a machine 

 she must become. 



A few years ago, when the Mohawk Valley was 

 the principal dairy section of the State, we are told 

 that it was the custom of the farmers and dairymen 

 to cut down all the shade trees in their fields so that 

 the cows would not be wasting time lying under 

 them, when, as the owners thought, they should be 

 up and at work. They also had boys going about 

 to drive their cattle up when they attempted to lie 

 down. They said truthfully that milk was made 

 from grass, and a cow was a machine, and she must 

 eat so much to supply her own wants. The more 

 she can be induced to eat in a day the greater will 

 be her returns to the owner. But they based their 

 reasoning on a mistaken notion, i. e. , that a cow was 

 feeding or eating when she was grazing or collect- 

 ing her food. While they were perfectly correct in 

 assuming that their cattle were machines, and the 

 owners' profit depended upon the amount of food the 

 animals could be made to consume above what they 

 required to heat their blood and supply their waste, 

 they were entirely wrong in supposing that a cow 

 was serving their best interests by being kept on 

 her feet. The next thing is to provide them with 

 the greatest possible comfort, so that when a cargo 

 is ready for the mill, the mill will be in as perfect 

 running order as possible. That is to say, when the 

 cow lies down and the milling begins, she will have 



