Vol. LV. No. 2415. 
NEW YORK, MAY 9, 1896. 
*1.00 PER YEAR. 
A MODERN YANKEE FARM. 
MAKING THE MOST OF A HARD SOIL. 
Fertilizer, Milk, Butter and Ice Cream. 
Part II. 
Complete records of the milk yields are kept—each 
cow’s mess being weighed and recorded twice a day. 
The milk pails are all brought to the same weight, 
and the finger on the spring balance is turned back 
so that, in weighing, the weight of the milk alone is 
indicated. 
The cows have all been tested with tuberculin, and 
17 animals that reacted were slaughtered. Four of 
them were found in bad condition, though externally 
they seemed in good health. Mr. Manchester said 
that it is remarkable how these cows could look as 
well as they 
did, while their 
lungs were a 
perfect mass of 
decayl The 
others were but 
little affected— 
most of them 
so slightly that 
the milk could 
not have been 
considere d 
dangerous. All 
the affected 
animals had 
been bought 
from other 
d a i r i e s—n o t 
one of the 
homebred cows 
responding t o 
the test. O f 
course no cow 
will be bought 
hereafter that 
will not pass 
the tuberculin 
test. 
When asked 
how much the 
State paid for 
the slaughtered 
animals, Mr. 
Manchester 
said, “ About 
what they 
would sell for, 
but not as much 
as their earning 
capacity to us.” 
There is room 
for much 
thought in that 
remark. The 
market price of a cow may be $40. That represents 
her average value as a money earner. That is, the 
average dairyman can make her earn, let us say, $15 
above the cost of labor and food. Another dairyman 
may take her and by better and more economical 
feeding, and by keener business insight in selling 
milk, cream, or butter, make her pay a profit of $25. 
The market value of the cow remains the same, but 
her earning capacity is largely determined by the 
man who handles her. 
The tuberculin test has been, in one way, a good 
thing for the Manchesters, since it has enabled them 
to guarantee their milk and cream. Every package 
of butter or cream that is sold, bears the legend, 
“Inspected Dairy,” and cards advertising the fact 
that the herd has been tested, are distributed. Wher¬ 
ever the newspapers talk about testing cattle and the 
dangers of tuberculosis, consumers are sure to be¬ 
come more careful about their milk supply, and the 
“ Inspected Dairy ” is sure to become more popu¬ 
lar as the people have an increased confidence in its 
owner. 
At the time of our visit, the ensilage had all been 
fed, and the cows were having early-cut hay for their 
rough fodder. For the grain ration, the following 
mixture was used : 100 pounds cotton-seed meal, 125 
gluten meal and 100 pounds wheat bran. The cows 
are fed from three to ten pounds of this mixture per 
day, depending on the amount of milk they give. 
This seems to us like a large proportion of cotton¬ 
seed meal to feed with hay and without ensilage, but 
it was giving excellent results at the pail, and the 
cows were certainly in fine condition. This mixture 
seems to be death to calves, however, and no more 
cotton-seed meal will be fed to young stock. 
The hay crop was short last year, and, naturally, 
the Manchesters have been looking about for cheap 
hay substitutes. When asked for results in this line, 
Mr. Manchester said: 
“ Having more stock than usual this year, and a 
short hay crop, and the ensilage giving out, we have 
been feeding wheat bran once a day in place of hay. 
The cows like it, and keep in good condition. As it 
costs us but $12.75 per ton, and hay is worth $20 per 
ton, it makes quite a difference in our feed bill.” 
It is certainly a singular state of affairs when 
wheat bran makes cheaper “roughage” than hay. 
That certainly indicates the possibility for good hay 
farming in New England on drained swamps or 
irrigated meadows. 
‘ ‘ How do you plan to keep up the flow of milk in 
summer,” we asked. 
“ We always plan for the dearth of pasturage that 
usually occurs in August and September, by putting 
in several acres of sweet corn. We are usually able 
to sell most of the corn at from 9 cents to 15 cents per 
dozen ears, wholesale, and as the stover will about 
pay for growing, we find it quite a profitable crop. 
Our favorite varieties in their order of ripening, are 
Early Essex, Crosby’s Early, Potter’s Excelsior, 
Stowell’s Evergreen and Country Gentleman. We 
use an Eclipse planter, and it works well in our rough 
country. We always have to tar our corn to keep 
away crows. We use a leaky pail or tub, and pour 
warm water orer the corn ; then add two tablespoon¬ 
fuls of tar to a peck of corn. Vigorous stirring will 
give it all an 
even coat. 
Then we sift 
wood ashes on 
it,stir until dry, 
sieve the corn, 
and we’re never 
troubled.” 
“ Have you 
ever tried grow¬ 
ing any other 
crops among 
the corn ? ” 
“ Last year 
we grew a good 
many dollars’ 
worth of Hub¬ 
bard squashes 
and citrons in 
our sweet corn, 
with practical¬ 
ly no expense, 
as the seed was 
mixed in the 
fertilizer tank. 
They do not 
bother the cul¬ 
tivator or hoe¬ 
ing machine, 
and the plants 
in the outside 
rows run off in¬ 
to the meadow 
or on to the 
fences and 
grow as well as 
in the garden. 
We fertilize the 
cornwell, most¬ 
ly with stable 
manure, and 
like to get two 
crops off the 
same land 
Three or four years ago, the Department of Agricul¬ 
ture sent us two half pint papers of 4 Cut Short or 
Corn Hill” beans. We threw them into the fertilizer 
tank of the corn planter. They came up finely and 
bore heavily, using the corn stalks for poles without 
injuring the corn. This year we expect to plant a 
quantity with the corn, and shall cut them into the 
silo with the corn hoping to make a more nitrogenous 
fodder at little cost, save for seed and extra fertilizer. 
As they are in the green bean stage at the time of corn 
cutting, we hope that they will be palatable, especially 
if we mix the grain ration with the ensilage.” 
As stated last week, the Manchesters are making 
more of the potato crop than they used to do. They 
find that potatoes of excellent quality will grow on 
their soil, and their intention is to grow, in addition 
to their main crop, a number of standard varieties fqr 
A LOAD OF COLORADO CABBAGE. A CASE OF “BIG HEAD” FROM'IRRIGATION. Fig. 101. See Page 319. 
