ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 293 



of level (almost too wet) land, which has been brought to a high 

 state of cultivation by the continuous growing of clover and the 

 the careful use of the farm manures. The manure from herd is 

 kept under clover and distributed with a spreader at a time when 

 the soil will be least injured by trampling. One of the things 

 about which the owner is very particular is to avoid the handling 

 of the soil at a time when there is danger of injuring its physi- 

 cal condition. The location and nature of his land is such as to 

 make this imperative. His pasture is thick and fine and capable 

 of sustaining a comparatively large number of animals. Corn 

 yields a large crop, oats and wheat are liable to lodge before har- 

 vest and sorghum is so growthy that even a moderate wind lays 

 it flat. These facts are mentioned to give evidence of the thought 

 exercised in the farm management so that the latter may be con- 

 trasted with the productive capacity of the herd. 



The owner had long felt that his cows were not what they 

 should be, but was never thoroughly impressed with that fact 

 until he began to test them. With one exception the nine cows 

 making up his herd were grade Shorthorns, one cow in the herd 

 being a Jersey. Their average production was 4607.5 pounds of 

 milk and 183.52 pounds of butter fat. Such a herd one can see 

 at a glance, is not profitable to keep where milk is commanding 

 a good price, and cream is in demand. The Jersey showed her- 

 self to be the best producer of butter fat, yielding 237.64 pounds, 

 while the best Shorthorn produced, however, only 212.60 pounds 

 of butter fat. During the winter months these cows were given 



