ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 23 



We put in as many acres as we can conveniently handle. It has often 

 been said, and well said, that ''Corn is King" and "Clover is Queen" of 

 the dairy. These crops, with the addition of bran, are our main reliance; 

 therefore it is necessary to have an abundance. 



I have taken a little latitude in my subject. While I admit a man 

 might be an excellent dairyman and a poor farmer, or vice versa, yet 

 owing to the small margin between the market price of dairy products 

 and cost of production, to be a successful cue he must be thorough in 

 both. 



For years we have run what you might call a winter dairy. We aim 

 to have the cows fresh in September or October, as that is the time when 

 we stock up for our winter run. We select well bred cows of fair size and 

 not too old. The quality and type should regulate the price. 



As we sell our milk by the quantity, we prefer the Holstein. but our 

 market objects to an all Holstein dairy, so there are a good many Short- 

 Horns of the milking strain us 



As they become fresh, feed light at first and gradually work them up 

 as the feed is increased, the milk flow increases; as the milk flow in- 

 creases the appetite increases, and so you work her up to her full capaci- 

 ty. They can be held to a full flow of milk only by the most judicious 

 care and feeding. 



Eo not overfeed. Eo not feed more than they will eat up clean and 

 have a sharp appetite for the next feed. Feeding and milking should 1 be 

 done with the greatest regularity possible. The feed cannot be made 

 any too good for the cow. The 1 ay should be early cut and nicely cured, 

 so it will have that greenish cast and fresh sweet smell. She enjoys the 

 meal freshly ground and the fodder freshly cut. She will not relish 

 stale food of any kind. Salt them every day and provide water boxes 

 so that they can have access to ^ ater at all times. 



Some winters we have made milk exclusively from the corn crop. 

 with the addition of bran, and feed as high as twenty pounds of grain 

 per cow a day, one-half meal and bran by weight, and the fodder from 

 which this corn was taken furnished the roughage. By having good 



