92 
Franco-Swiss Dairy-Farming. 
and to remove it ; and in other cases, equally exceptional, to 
make hay and feed their cattle on the mountain for some weeks 
longer than usual. Soon after the beginning of October the 
cattle require shelter and house feeding, hence the latter 
arrangement is not often feasible. 
The amodier is allowed as much firewood as he requires, 
certain trees and bushes being marked annually for his use. 
The rent of a chalet does not vary so much with the size as 
with the quality of the pasture. The ground belonging to a 
chalet may be very extensive, but at the same time there may be 
very little pasture on it, on account of rocks, declivities, and 
forests ; the rent also depends much on the state and length and 
steepness of the roads which lead up to it, as well as upon 
the quality of the grass and shelter from prevailing winds. 
All the pastures, if not possessing springs, are supplied from 
artificial sources ; the water from wells is raised by means 
of pumps supplied by the landlords. Occasionally there ap- 
pears to be a lack of water, and this is sometimes overcome by 
means of earthenware piping used to convey water from springs 
at a higher level. 
When an amodier has obtained a block or two of pasture, he 
goes about among his neighbours to get cattle. For a block of 
500 acres about one hundred and fifty cattle may be con- 
sidered necessary. If the block is not well stocked, the grass 
does not get well eaten down, but grows coarse and hard, the 
result being that the cattle do not give the proper quantity of 
milk. If, on the other hand, the block is overstocked, the yield 
of milk is not up to the mark in quality or quantity. The 
amodier pays for the use of the cows, and is paid for the agist- 
ment of calves, steers, &c. For the use of the cows for* four 
months the amodier pays from sixty-five to eighty francs (fifty- 
two to sixtv-four shillings) per head, and for the other cattle 
he is paid from ten to twenty francs (eight to sixteen shillings) 
per head. For some cows the price is fixed in advance, and 
for others after the close of the season, when their milking 
capabilities are known. 
If a cow drops a calf on the pasture, that calf belongs to the 
amodier and not to the proprietor of the cow. This arrange- 
ment is made in order to compensate the amodier for the loss 
he sustains in the milk. If the cow, however, is likely to calve 
immediately on leaving tlie mountain, the amodier allows her 
owner to remove h(?r before tlie specified time. 
On a pasture carrying eighty cows, or under, one bull is kept ; 
the amodier being obliged to keep him {or the use of cows, and 
does not receive anything for his services. 
The farmer sustains tlie loss arising from the death of any 
