Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-15
Gbe 9atrp.
SolLINe AS RELATED TO DAIRY
FARMING.

ty. Mr.. Lewis said he did not propose to
speak in favor Of soiling per Sc, but his re-
marks were intended to apply to grass-grow-
ing regions, where grass was natural, and to
such soiling crops as could be pro6tably
grown in connection with pasturage. To
soil stock under present circumstances, with
labor high, land ordinary, and milk from
| 3.4 to 2 cents per quart, the laborer
should work for nothing and board himself
On high-priced lands, near cities, and where
labor was reasonable, it might do to soil ex-
clusively; but he proposed to discuss it only
as it was connected with pasturage. He was
wise dairyman who could tell exactly when
pastures were yielding an insufficient amount
of forage But when the COWS show shrink
age in milk, then they needed more feed,
and if neglected, they will lose flesh also
In true dairy district grass can be grown
more cheaply than any other feed, bat as an
adjunct he had found lueerne to be the best
of all soiling plants on land adapted to it.
1t likes best a sandy or light soil, and if
there is water eight inches or so below it, so
much the better. Its habit, too, is to mo-
nopolize the soil or leave it. Sown broad
cast, it requires Is lbs. per acre-in drills,
from 10 to IA. He preferred broadcast
seeding. 1t is highly relished by all stock
animals, and will make four growths year
each of two feet or more, and it can be cut
as easily as rye. There is one piece Of lu'
cerne in Ondeida County which had grown
los inches in one season. 1t will not pro-
duce quite as much milk as some Of the nat
ural grasses, but nobody will object to the
quality Of the milk.
Next for soiing purposes, he prefers or
chard grass. For convenience it had better
ho sown near the barn, on underdraiued and
subsoiled land Sow at least three bushels
per acre-better more than less. Fertil
ize near the surface, and not deeper than the
cutivator will work it; make the ground
rich--pery rich-and seed in the fall After
the first year you can cut it twice, aud after
that four times, if you keep it rich. Sur
face manure-there is no danger from evap
oration-he did not think it would exceed
per cent. at any rate. Cut before it fairl,
gets into blossom if not, it quickly changes
into woody, fbrous matter. On rich land
when we'll established, two feet Of growtl
can be obtained at emitting. 1t comes on
too, when the cows need it, aud before yor
can get feed for them from fodder corn. Al
ways cut before it blossoms, and if you don
need it just then cure it for feed in the ear
ly spring, and your second cutting will evel
yet be earlier than sowed corn. This frs
cutting will be dried grass-not "hay'-an
no cooking is needed to improve it, but som
roots fed with it will supply all the succu
ence needed Had done better with tn
dairy in March in this way than any dairy
man in Herkimer County. From an expc
rience Of % years he had found that n
roots equalled the American improved impC
rial sugar beet-it was a long name, bu
some of the roots grow long also. He ha
raised A tons to the acre. and it comes neal
er to supplying the succuence Of grass tina
anything he knew Of, and at the cheapest rat'
As to the amount to feed ac VAS governed /
part by the character Of the COWS a peel
on the average, does well, but some will TAX
half bushel. Next to this sugar beet in va
ue was the Yellow Globe, and for young stocl
the Mammoth Red. He once bought
toothless old COW for s2l, giving about tw
quarts of milk daily on feed OF hay au
grain He gradually chang her food
roots (sugar beets), aud in two weeks b,
I yield rose to 40 lbs. of milk laily, and sh
made 700 lbs of cheese that season, viii
the average in Herkimer County Is less tina
300 lbs. He kept the COW FIVE years,
hopes to raise heifer from her, but unto
tunately her calves were "all of the 9TH
SEX" He finally sold her for the same pri
she cost him, and on a change of feed 81
died soon after. But anybody else could {
as well as he had done, and one point was
weed out all the non.paying cows in the da
=, ry-and in dairy Of thirty, there wou
usually be several such constantly drAinil
the profits from the good cows. Give the
away, or hire some one to take them. Gi
!. your good stock all the good grass they "
eat, furnish comfortable quarters, plenty
light and air, treat them as kindly as y
would your family, and you may expect
do we'll. But it is cruel to feed old, wood
ibrous hay, which COW cannot digest n
assimilate. Grass, grass and plenty Of it,
what your COW needs.
r In answer to questions, Mr.. Lewis 50
the beets should be sown just as soon as t
ground was in good order. They will n
run to seed the first year, though carrC
h will. Can get second growth Of orcha
grass by the last of June. Don't think 4
quent changes Of pasture are good. Lucer
does not change rapidly 10 woody fibre.
If seeding to clover he prefers the large kin,
l. Mr.. +. D. Curtis preferred the SIN
kinds of clover for pastures or hay. I
value of grass was in its foliage, not in
- stalks. The large kinds had few side ste
!. or leaves until late in the season, long a
d worthless stalk and small head For {
riching the land the large kind is the be
in as the roots go down in proportion to
ir top, But it does not start as early as
small kinds, and is wasteful for hay !
le lodges, rots, aud furnishes mass of mater
7" of little use. As to orchard grass, it
g. great value for soiling it will stand drOl
ID better than anything he knew Of, as it ha