312 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



The term "soiling," is applied to artificial feeding, when the 

 pastures fail. To manage this department properly, due prepa 

 ration must be made for enclosing the cows in yards, sheds or 

 stables, while taking their prepared food, as well as permitting 

 them to have ample range in a larger enclosure near by, that 

 they may have plenty of air and exercise in dry weather. No 

 better arrangement need be made than to use the winter stables 

 for feeding purposes, when soiling, as the cows should always be 

 secured in their stalls, morning and night, for milking, through- 

 out the dairy season. At these times they can be fed. Open, 

 airy sheds, with proper racks or mangers, can also be used for 

 the purpose. When milked and fed, they should always, during 

 the warm season, be turned out to enjoy the fresher and cooler 

 air, as the stables, even if well ventilated, are sometimes too 

 warm for them. At noon, or at other times also, — for they 

 require feeding at least three times a day, and four or five times, 

 even, may not be too much — they can be turned in to receive 

 their regular mid-day rations. Water, of course, they are to 

 receive at will, outside, if not furnished within. 



This mode of feeding is indispensable, when a full flow of milk 

 is required throughout the season, and whenever the pastures 

 fail. It will pay, too, in the increased products of the dairy. 

 There is no doubt of its economy, also, with all kinds of cattle, 

 where land is valuable, as one-third to one-half the same area of 

 ground, in the same condition of fertility, will yield an equal 

 quantity of forage, to that fed off by the usual mode of grazing. 

 That is to say : one acre of land, well cultivated in good soihng 

 crops, will yield as much nutritive food for the cow, as two or 

 three common acres will yield in pasture. 



For soiling purposes, ample preparation must be made in the 

 spring, that when the pastures fail, if fail they do in any part of 

 the grazing season, they may be readily resorted to, and if not 



