The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-05-13
Dairy Soiling.

Inc high prtcc ot uairy pfVuucs iot tne ieW
last years indicates either that mich cows ars
scarce, or that there Is not . sufficient quantity
Of land in pasturage. The scarcity Of choice
butter and the abundance Of that Of inferior
quality, and the losses which farmers sustain by
the rapid deterioration Of the inferior article
are OF sufficient importance TO demand an in
quiry into the causes which produce such m in
jurious eject on one Of the most important prod
ucts Of the farm
With the increasing price Of land near our
large towns, and the demand for milk by their
growing populations, the subject OF soiling Is re-
ceiying considerable attention. by soiling is
meant Oh e keeping up q cattle during the usual
pssturing season in barns, or yards, and the
FEEDING Of them on green food, which has been
specially cut for them, instead Of turning them
into the fields to gather their own food.
A popular objection 10 this mode Of keeping
mich cows is, that want Of exercise must effect
injuriously the health Of the animal. To this,
European writers, SOME Of whom have kept, in
this way, large herds. reply that they never had
one sick, or one die, or one miscarry, in consc-
queucc. After more than ten years pursuance
of the same practice, my experience justihes me
in uniting my testimony TO theirs.
As to the quantity VI milk being increased by
soiling, those who have tried Il agree IN saying
that they believe IL TO be 50, and;as to the sub
jcct Of manure, that the quantity Is greatly in
creased dces not admit of doubt.
The question here arises, how are the cattle to
be kept, In the barn.yard or in stable This
must be decided BY the farmer himself. Accord
ing to circumstances. when the convenience
and room are sufficient, mixed plan OF letting
them go out for exercise, and shutting them up
when flies are troublesome, allowing the circum-
stances Of weather, time Of day, feeling, &C.,
to govern the treatment OF the animals, will be
found in the best. Eet the feeding be regular,
and see that they are supplied with equal regu-
isrity with the purest and most wholesome wa
ter that can be procured. These are all items
Of adyan tage. that 20 10 swell the mass ofsrgu-
ments in favor Of soiling.
In regard 10 the food which should be grown
for the feeling OF the cattle. first In importance
II Indian corn. and for its cultivation the soil
verilation and manuring. In applying manure
LEI Il be borne in mind that we are not growing
corn for grain; but that We desire . quick and
early crop Of stalks, and therefore want manure
In more thorough state Of decomposition than
would be desirable In growing crop Of grain,
The seed may be sown broadcast; and this Is
In with drill is undoubtedly the better plan,
possessing even more advantages than drilling
In wheat. IL, however. IL is decided for good
reasons TO SOW broadcast, from three TO four
bushels Of seed should be used per acre, and
narrowed in with well deoomposed manure,
spread upon the surface. When the drill Is
used, the ground should be manurcd and hsr-
rowed previous 10 putting in the seed. We
-. L.. tsat ,f InlsFa
in this case because we believe that the crop,
which we arc going 10 remove ss early as We
can grew IL, win get more Of its fertilIing prop
critics than ifplowcd in. Sow in drills about
two fset apart. This allows the use OF cultiva-
lor, or horse-hOe, thus securing the benefit Of
having the soil lcosened and the weeds kept
down. The grosscr kinds ofcorn, as the Ohio
or Southern, are considered the most profitable,
although this Is a question that may not be
settled.
Besides corn, rye, barley and oats, among
the grains, and. clover, timothy, millet, &C.,
among the grasses, are usually fed TO soiled cat
tie. In regard to the subject Of seed to be sown,
and the time Of sowing. To produce suthci-
ent quantity Of succ ulent food, SOW
l. As carly in April as the land will permit,
which is usually etween the 9th and 10th, on
properly prepared land, oats at the rate OF four
bushels to theacro.
.. About the Goth Of the same month, SOW
either oats or barley, ut the same rate per acre.
3. Early in May SOW, in like manner, either
ofthe above grains.
4. Between the 10th and 18th OF May, SOW
Indian corn, (the fiat Southern being the bcst)
in drills, three bushels 10 the acre.
About the 25th Of May, SOW corn again
in like proportions
q. About the 9th Of June, rrpeat the sow
ing ofcorn.
!. After the above mentioned sowing. barley
should he sown on the 10Th and 18th Of June
and earty in July; barley being the best quail
fel 10 resist the early trusts
These directions, Of course, refer TO the north
ern and middle States; in the southern States
SOW as early as the season will admit. As soon
~ the first sowing Is fed otf. the land should be
well manurel and plowed and again sowei
with sci, pursuing this practice with all the
land from which fodder has been removed in
in time fora new crop TO be grown, which can
only be in cases Of early sowing. As to the
quantity Of lani To he cultivated, square roi
Of rich loan in grass. cats. barley, or Indian
corn. is enough TO support one cow day, If cut
and Eel 10 her in the barn.
Ifthere should be greater growth than il
consumed In the green state. IL would not he
lost, as u may be cur~l for winter use.-.fmer-
lean Stock Journal.