318 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



were soiled, and on comparison, at the end of three months, 

 those soiled were found in decidedly the best condition. The 

 same cows were pastured one season, and soiled the next, and 

 their condition was better when soiled than when pastured; and 

 uniformly soiling has improved the condition of his animals. 

 He has cows that have been soiled for five consecutive seasons, 

 and kept in good condition apd uniform health. In fact, he 

 regards soiling as very conducive to the health of animals, as it 

 places always within the power of the feeder, an abundant sup- 

 ply of the best food ; while pasturing, frequently affords a large 

 supply at one season, and a very meager one at another. And 

 to those who are fattening animals for the market, it is of great 

 value, as by adding a small quantity of grain to the summer 

 feed, they will fatten very fast. Summer is the best time to fat- 

 ten animals, for they will fatten in less time, and with one-third 

 less grain, than required in winter. It also offers every facility 

 for graduating the feed to each animal, according to its condition 

 and the object to be attained. A dairyman may prepare a cow, 

 he desires to part with, for the butcher, while giving milk, and 

 thus save any loss; 



EFFECT OF SOILING UPON THE PRODUCT OF MILK. 



"The experience of the writer is that the cow will average 

 one-tenth more milk through the whole season. When the pas- 

 ture is fresh and full, and the cow can easily get all she wants, 

 she will give as much milk, but soiling enables the feeder to give 

 a uniform supply of food, and consequently the flow of milk will 

 be more uniform. Some American farmers have estimated the 

 increase of milk much greater than the above, and some very 

 interesting experiments have just been published by Dr. Rhode- 

 Eldena, of the Royal Academy of Agriculture, in Prussia, of 

 the comparative yield of milk from cows, by pasturing and stable 

 feeding, or soihng, through seven years of each system. The 

 pasturing experiment began in 1853, and continued to the end 



