Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-06

II
for him 10 give up his farm. he resumed
its managementin 1S47 and returned to the
practice Of soiling and kept from thirty to
thirty-ave head of mich cows in this way
with entire satisfaction 10 himself
The European writer's ehumerate six dis
tincs advantages to be obtained by the praG-
tice of soiling over that Of pasturiDg cattle
In the summer season:
/. It saves land.
2. Il saves fencing
8. 1t economies food.
4. It keeps the cattle in better condition
and greater comfort.
5. By this method more milk Is obtained.
6. The quantity of manure is largely In
creased, and the quality ls better.
1. It is asserted that one can on the soil
ing principle, that is. cutting Tie sFieeh grass
oreleser and conveying It to the cattle, well
support three times as many head for
given time as when pastured. Some even
go as far as to assert that it is equal to sew
en- acres pastured, while Professor Steph-
ems, Of Scotland, thinks that It is barely
equal to two, though it is evident he makes
no allowance In bis calculation for the inju-
~ done the growing crop by tranpIng.
2. The saving Of fsnelhs in locations
where there il scarcity Of timber or lumber,
is considerable item and one that bears
heavily upon a good many Of the farmers
Of Tennessee. All interior fences by the
method of soiling are rendered useless and
the land saved upon which they are built.
The number Of gates are decreased, and
the work 70 keep clean all the Fence Corners
Of inside fences sa5ed. Usually the amount
Of inside fencing equals the external lines,
one half Of the amount of fencing now re-
quired on farm could be saved. Many of
our contributors are discussing, very ably,
the question of Fence, or No Fence. 1t
may be that compromise between the two
may be arrived at BY the general adoption
of the plan of soiling cattle.
8. AS to the saving Of food, it is well
known that when hay is put into rack, or
clean trough, cattle will eat it much closer
than when it has been trodden under foot
as it is always done In the pastures. In
deed 1t may be said that twice as much is
injured by tratnpIng, by dung, by the lying
down, by stating, by breathing upon it as
is eaten By cattle in the pastures.
4. The better condition and comfort OF
cattle are secured. They are not exposed
to the drenching summer rains they Gre
supplied with food regularly and are under
the watchful eye of their keeper. Often
times in pastures, they are taken with
bloat and die before they are geeh
by the owners. A great many are lost
in this way, "When kept in pasture" says
Nj. Quincy, 'Ghey are left to their own
care, subject to various accidents; to the i'll
effects produced by worrying each other; to
the constantly varying state of the pasture
which is always affected by drought and by
the proportion Of the number pastured; and
to the productive power Of the field which
is often overstocked." In stall feeding they
are to some extent kept independent of the
variations OF the season. During the heat of
the day they are kept under cover Of shade,
less annoyed by flies, etc." Some object to
this mode on the ground that it will affect the
health of the cattle. Mr.. Quincy found
his cattle to remain in perfect health dur
ing the long time he practiced it, and Eu-
ropean writers, many of whom keep large
herds, bear their testimony to the entire
healthfulness Of the plan. The amount of
exercise taken by cows In pasture is very
small, and amounts to just what is required
to get their food.
5. The quantity Of milk is increased, In
early spring, before hot weather, the
amount is greater from pastured cows, but
as the summer advances those that are
soiled get the advantage and keep it.
6. The amount of manure saved by the
soiling process is enough to pay for all the
"labor and expense Of raising, cutting and
bringing in the food, feeding, currying and
other care Of the cattle" Such is the opin-
ion Of one who took the pains and had an
opportunity of testih g the matter thorough
ly.
One square rod Of land, of rich loan, in
high tilth, in grass, oats, barley, or Indian
corn, is enough to support a COW for one
day. One acre then would support one
hundred and sixty. Mr.. Quincy, however,
for fear Of dry seasons, made it
practice to put in one and half
rods for each head per day. The
best crop with us for soiling would be red
clover or lucerne. The latter could be cut
several times during the year, and in this
way alleviate the necessity of sowing at
stated intervals. One hand employed for
five months, the pssturing season, at twenty
dollars per month, would in this way save
all the interior fencing on the farm, and the
stock would be better attended to and the
amount Of manure largely increased. Let
our farmers try it. The cost is small; the
promised advantages great. II any of our
readers have any experience on the SUBJ
ject we should be glad to hear from them. |
REMEDY FOR ASTHMA.
To the Editor Of the Union and American:
BEDFORD, June l, 1872.-I send you the |
i n