Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-15
A ggCulGuralo
PrtpISG cows.
~ THE EDITOR OF THE FARMERS LIBRARY.

The COW requires TO be supplied with aoun-
dance Of food, not TO make her fat, which IS not
desirable, but to keep up regular secretion OF
milk in the system. The feeding mus, be reg
ular, from morning TO night, and pure water
must be offered at proper intervals, if the cow
has not the liberty Of going to the water herself.
Regarding the nature of the food Of cows,
although solng, or artificial feeding in the
house is at all times economical, there can be
no doubt that the lest milk and butter Is pro
duced By cows fed on natural pasture; and,
although the quantity Of milk is not SO great,
vet the butter has sweet taste, never 10 be
discovered in the produce of soIled cows. IL
was formerly the case in Scotland, and the
practice is still continued in some parts, to put
The cows out to grass in the spring IN such an
rnaciated state that considerable part OF the
best season was gone before they yielded the
quantity Of milk they otherwise would nave
done. On well enclosed farms, II IS the Gus
9 tom Of many to keep their cows out both night
and day, from May till the end Of October, so
long az full bite can be obtained and some
bring them into the house twice day 10 be
MIXED. Song or feeding entirely in the
the house or court yard, is but seldom pracu-
ced. except by some farmers IN arabic districts.
Although complete soiling is only occasionally
rcsored TO. vet a considerable quantity OF rich
green food is served out TO the DAIRY stock IN
their stalls at night, and in the heat OF the day,
by such farmers as bring their cows into the
house at these times. This mode Of feeding is
more especially followed when the pasture be-
gins TO fail the second crops OF clover and
tares, cabbages, coleworts, and other garden
produce, are all given TO the cows IN the house
at this period. 1t is upon this system that the
whole perfection of the Flemish husbandry IS
founded and ii could be put in practice, with
InrnEntal raSnfc n other
countries. In Holland, the cows, when fed in
the house have their drink OF water invariably
mixed with oil cake, or rye, or oat meal
Dairy cows are allowed TO be much injured
by being denied a due supply OF salt, which is
said 10 improve the quality and increase the
quantity of the milk. In the best managed
diaries in Scotland, when the cows are taken
in for the winter they are never put out TO the
fields until spring, when the grass has risen so
much as to afford a full bite. In the moorish
districts, however, they are put out to the
fields for some hours every day when the
weather will permit. In these districts the
wister food is turnips with marsh hay-oeca-
sionally straw and boiled chatf
In the rich districts, turnlps and straw are
given and occasionally some clover hay IN
sprinr. or when the cows have calved. Upon
this subject nothing need be added, but that
the QUANTITY and quality Of the milk will be IN
proportion to the nourishment OF the food
White turnips afford a good quantity OF milk,
but they impart very disagreeable taste,
which may be removed, however by steaming
or boiling the ,urnips, or by putting small
Quantity of dissolved satpetre into the milk
when new drawn. The quality of the milk
depends a great deal on the COW influenced,
however, by the food she eats. Linseed. peas
and oat meal produce rich milk; and mixture
OF bran and grams has been recommended as
food in winter. Brewers grams are sad TO
produce large quantity OF mix, but very thin
the quality being somewhat similar 10 that
sold in large towns, yielding neither good
cream nor butter. 1t has been found oil some
inheritance to feed cows frequently-three or
fonr times day in summer, and hive or SIX IN
win,er-and TO give them no more at time
than they can eat ceanly.
What has been stated regarding the feeding
of the cows applies principally 10 those kept
on dairy farms. In establishments for the sup
plyiug of large towns with milk, the method
,,f feeding IS somewhat different; there the
practice IS TO feed them on dstllers' wash.
brewers grains, and every sort OF hquld stun
that will produce large quantity OF milk,
without reference TO It's quality. The Edn-
burgh cowkeepers begin 10 feed with gram,
dreg. and bran, mixed together at five O'Clock
the afternoon, and third time at seven or eight
O'Clock in the evening grass in summer, and
turnips and potatoes IN winter, beng gwen IN
two intervals. The grass is laid upon the
straw in order to impart 10 II a certain flavor,
and make il palatahle; it is eaten after the
grass and in winter, straw or hay is gwen
s(ter the ,urnips. Part of the turnips and po-
tatoes are boiled, particularly when there is
scarcity Of grain.
Thcfollowing is mentioned in the Farmers
Magazine" as an improved mode oil ieedmg
,nilch cows near Farnham, Ill Surrey Go to
the cow stall at SIX o'clockln the morning, WIN.
ter and summer give each COW han ouShci OF
Inarrel- wurtzel. carrots, turnips, or potatoes,
cut; al seven O'Clock, the hour the dairy maid
comes 10 milk them, give each some hay. and
let them feed until they are all MIXED. II any
COW refuses hay, give her something she VIII
ea,-sush as grains, carrots, &c.-during the
time she is milking: it is absolutely necessary
the cow should feed while milking. AS soon
as the woman has finished milking IN the NOR
ming. turn The cows into the airing ground,
and let there be plenty Of fresh ,caier IN the
troughs; at nine O'Clock give each COW three
gallons of the mixture (as under-to eight gal
Ions ofgrains add four gallons OF bran or pol
lard y when they have eaten that, put some
hay into the cribs at twelve O'Clock, give each
ltlIet gallons Ol Tue iulAAuIc do pciSlNs
COW looks for more give her another gallon
On the contrary, ii she will no, eat what you
give her, take 1t out of her manger; for never
at one time let COW have more than she will
eat up clean. Mind aud keep your managers
clean, that they do not get sour. AT two
O'Clock, give each COW halt bushel of carrots,
mangel-wurtzel, or turnips look the turnips,
sc. over well, before you give them 10 the
cows-as one rotten turnip, sc. will give
bad TASTE to the milk, and most likely spoil
whole dairy of butter. At four O'Clock, put
the cows into the stall to be MIXED feed them
on hay as you did at milking time in the NOR
ming, keeping in mind that the COW, while mil
king must feed on something. AT six O'Clock,
give each owthree gallons oithe mixture as be-
fore. Rack them up at eight O'Clock. Twice
in a week, put into each cows feed at noon
quart of salt dust"
Soar AS MASuRE-T. DALTON, silk dy-
or, says. in the London Agricultural Gazette,
IF weekly dis