Cow-Keeping by Farm Labourers. 
541 
tion on the depauperizing of his estate bj cow-keeping and 
other means will find some useful hints on a property of this 
kind, though it may not be administered on the strictest rules 
of political economy. 
Mr. Haste informed me that the cow-keepers purchase maize- 
meal and bran, and hay occasionally in bad seasons. They use 
bone-dust on their pastures. The produce, when one cow is 
kept, consists of butter for sale, and " skim cheese " for home 
consumption. The quality of the butter is, in many instance^, 
superior to that from the larger dairies. " Cow-briefs " are 
unknown. The rules of a very successful cow-club on this 
estate have appeared in the form of a small pamphlet published 
by Mr. Franklin, Wem, Salop, and entitled "Rules of the Frees 
Cottagers' Cow Club, established 1838, and now held at Frees 
Lower Heath School." The society was duly registered by 
Mr. John Tidd Fratt, Registrar of Friendly Societies. The 
payments of the members are very small, 2s. entrance money, 
and Is. per quarter, the stewards to allow a member whose cow 
dies a sum not exceeding 10/., — the hide and carcass to be at 
the disposal of the committee. In buying a cow a warranty is 
required from the seller, and the animal must be on the 
premises forty-eight hours before she is marked as a club cow. 
Calves are insured at Is. 3c/. entrance fee, and 9rf. per quarter, 
entered and marked old ; all at 6 months owed for in the event of 
death at the rate of 2/., if it die under 12 months old ; or after 12 
months, 3/. till bulled. An extra call is made when a loss is not 
met by the money in the box. There are honorary members. 
I must sum up briefly the capital replies of Mr. George Willis, 
Duddon, Tarporley. He says that Cheshire, being a dairy 
county, farmers as a rule are very unwilling to sell even a small 
quantity of milk, and he therefore thinks it desirable that every 
labourer should keep a cow. Three acres of grass are sufficient, 
two acres of which are grazed, and one acre well managed for 
mowing. The cow-keeping labourer usually purchases about a 
ton of turnips or mangolds, and six or seven sacks of Indian 
corn-meal. He sometimes applies a top-dressing of bones. He 
purchases litter from his employer. His family consume a 
portion of the produce ; and " as farm labourers here," says 
Mr. Willis, " generally marry farm dairy-servants who under- 
stand the manufacture of butter, the quality compares favourably 
with that of larger dairies." Mr. Willis adds : — 
" The most thoughtful and intelligent agriculturists in this district agree 
that the moral influence is decidedly good and elevating. The children of 
labourers having cows, being trained while young to habits of carefulness and 
management, generally make the best and most careful farm servants. A good 
supply of milk is exceedingly valuable in the rearing of his family and pro- 
viding the labourer himself with a strong and healthy article of diet, which 
