The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-09-15
A8rlGnltnral.
From The Farmer 9- Planter.
Management of Mich Cows.

Messrs. EDITORS Il feel myself highly
fiattered by the notice you have taken of my
former letter, and the request that you made
of me in reference to the breeding and
management of cattle. had no idea
that my cows had been heard of so far
from home, though they have been spoken
OF, and L ridiculed some little in this vi
cinity. But to the subject. So far as
breeding is concerned, l have paid no at
tention to it, except to have the cows to
calve at such times as we are best provided
ed with pasture and food. Not having the
means myself of importing, and thus i'm
proving my stock, | have long wished that
lived near such man as Mr.. Peters of
Atlanta, that l might profit by his enter
prise.
My management is simple, and should
be common among the lovers of milk and
butter. In the first place, get the COW fat
before she calves. AS soon as she calves. or
Ia day or two before, milk her clean, and
make such applications to the bag rs will
soften it and remove the milk-fever (greasy
water or pot-liquor is good)' At the same
time let her food be such as will increase
the flow of milk. Stops, pumkips, beets,
carrots, d., also, green rye, green oats,
crop-grass, pea-vines or collards, will in
crease the quantity of milk. This should
be attended to while the calfis very young.
The quality may be improved by more
substantial food, such as meal, or choop-
ped grain, with little dry food in sum-
mer, and green lots or esculent roots in
winter, with slops-for all dry or green
food is not so good as mixture.
The cow should be housed during bad
weather. | think it Injuries cow as much
to De exposed one day and night, as it does
horse or mule week. Those who
have noticed, observe that cows continue
to improve during the summer and fall or
while the pastures are good, but during
the winter they lose all the improvement
If left to live on dry food alone, and every
spring we have to start from nothing
again. Whereas, by having green lots
for the COW to feed on, only one-hour each
day, with little meal and some roots as
above named, we can keep her up through
the winter, and then commence the i'm
provcment in the spring where we left off
in the fall, and thus increase the milk cv-
cry year. 1t matters not how much milk
cows gives at five years old; risk the
opinion that she will give double as much
at ten years old, if the improvement is
continued. For, once the cow is really
fat, 1t is an easy matter to keep her so if
we are not over stocked. For illustrations:
l once heard of man who got farm
and hands by marriage, he walked out
where the men were hoeing and timing
corn; he was delighted with his prospects
from the great number of stalks in each
hill; boy caught and at one jerk pulled
up seven stalks, leaving two in the hill;
the enraged master raised his cain, and
jumped at the boy, eXclaiming: "boy! boy!
you'll rutn us, ruin as we'll have TO beg
our bread-thsse was nine iiue corns In
that hill and you have pulled up seven OF
them" This is precisely the case with
two many farmers, they have nine cows
where they should have but two.
l had rather have but one COW on full
pasturage and feed, than six on the same
pasturage and feed. So, also, had ratl,.
er have one stalk in hill than nine, OF
even two. Every one should. keep as many
cows as his means will afford, and do more
On gathering my crops, the milch cows
are the first stock let into the field, and ]
get the benefit in two or three days, where
as, if the hogs have the preference it is
two or three years before the benefits
come on the table.
In conclusion, let me say to the lovers
of milk and butter, take an agricultural
paper; read and study nature; give your
COWS natures food, and good shelter; milk
her regularly, ,and be sure to milk her clean,
especially while the calf is young; never
suffer the milch cows to run with other
cattle; by this means they will give milk
for years-and then, too, you see that /
have been greatly benefited by book,
farming" or, rather, by reading agricul,
tural papers.
If you consider these rude statements
worthy Of place in your luablc paper
they are at your service.