26 
ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
seed itself. As to cutting early or late, he believed Mc¬ 
Lean’s theory correct. It should be really ripe, but for 
milk it should be cut green. 
S. W. Kingsley inquired as to the mode of using 
clover as a fertilizer. 
C. H. Larkin wanted to know which he could do the 
cheapest, draw manure three-fourths of a mile, or use clover. 
O. C. Diggins: Would draw the manure. To plow 
in, was the general mode practiced where clover was used. 
W. W. Bingham thought to spread on a coat of dry 
straw and plow in, was as good as a coat of manure. After 
some further discussion of this question 
No. 2_“ Soiling; is it profitable to the dairymen of 
this state ? And to what extent? ” was taken up. 
W. W. Bingham : Could not say much on this ques¬ 
tion from experience. Had farmed but little. Knew a man 
who kept sixty cows upon one hundred acres of land by 
means of soiling. His own plan was to drill in his corn for 
fodder; used five bushels of seed per acre, and obtained a 
very large yield of fodder. Also used oats cut green for 
soiling. Sowed three bushels per acre. Found this to be 
good feed for soiling. Kept his cows in the stanchions 
twenty hours out of the twenty-four. Kept twelve cows 
on six acres of pasture. His farm contained thirty-six 
acres. Intended to keep twenty cows as soon as his farm 
was in a little better condition. Raised nine acres of corn. 
Bought five tons of bran. The remainder of the feed was 
raised on the farm. Of good milk, twenty-one pounds was 
sufficient to make a pound of butter. 
