Oxford Democrat., 1873-07-15
Soilin0 Cattle.

Growing special forage crops 10 be
used in summer for the food OF cows, is
4 subject the importance of which we be-
heve is yearly gaming ground in the
minds Of the farmers throughout all the
older portions OF our country, and the
present severe drought must be forcing :
the subject upon the attention of all.
One Of our contemporaries asks in u late
editorial why is not soiling more pOpu-
lar? Once in while some one is known
TO keep on in the track. but many. il not
most, have returned TO the ancient waste
ful way. That it is wsstelul way,
there is no doubt. The cattle tread
down good deal; their manure spoils
much more; they are exposed to heat
and drought, and plauged by nies; they
tread the land down hard and solid,
which is unavoidable to vigorous veSe-
tation; but worst OF all is the heavy out
lay required in fencing. Then the man
ure they make is scattered about, dried
up by the winds and mostly wasted,
while. when tho cattle are fed in a yard.
the manure pile which follows, Is by NO
means 10 be deSpised."
We agree iully with the writer. in re
gard to the advantages Of sOiing over
the old way Of making the cows get
their entire living from the pastures and
moving fields through the whole sum
mer season. But we differ with him in
regard to the general abandonment of
the system by those who have tried IL.
On the contrary. We believe that the
practice OF feeding COWS green food in
summer Is really gaining in popularity
every year. We deem this especially
true OF all the New England States. and
in less degree. perhaps. Of New York
and Ohio.
Still we were a little surprised 10 learn
by letter from an Iowa farmer. that
even at the far West, the subject Is be-
ginning to receive the attention OF the
prairie farmers. The writey.-aller al.
luding 10 Tho cruel practice OF turning
cattle unrestrained on 10 the prairieS,
late in the season, when there IS nothing
but dried, frOst.killed grass for them
and the bad neishborship and bad friend
ship. brought about by the depreciation of
cattle made breechy by hunger; and the
enormous cost OF fences which the farm.
ers OF the West are unable 10 maintain
concludes by advocating a "s,ock law"
that will make it incumbent upon every
one owing stock. 10 have il either soiled.
or herded, or both. And he regards this
question OF soiling at the bottom of all
reforms in farming and general agricul.
ture; and though = question oil time,
they must sooner or later come 10 it. and
the sooner the better. So writes a prairie.
farmer at the West. where we supposed
Soiling had hardly been thought Of
Among our newspaper clippings We
ind another letter from a large dairy
farmer in the vicinity Of Providence, r. f.
l., who has praesiced soiling to 4 very
lsrge extent on herd OF cows kept for
milk and breeding, asking his brother
farmers who have had practical expert.
ence in soiling entirely from May Is to
November lst. whether it would be ne.
cessary for profit, or the health of COWS, /
20 feed some dry hay or meal. and how
much
The old definition Of the word "soil. "
according to Webster, is 10 feed cattle. /
or horses in the barn or an inclosure.
with fresh grass of green food cut for
them, instead Of sending them out to .
pasture; such food having the effect 10
Psrge them. hence TO purge by feeding
upon green food; as TO sell horse.
This is not exactly what is generally
now understood by soiling Soiling AS
now praciieed by the best dairy farmers
really means stall feeding IN summer, |
wholly or in part. according to the con
dition Of the pastures or the cireum.
stances OF the iarmer.
We believe in minglin. the two sy..
Iems. where 1t can be done. Some ex.
ercise is undoubtedly necessary to the
continued health of all animals, though
the mich COW will get along with perhaps
less than any Of our domestic animals. /
And there can be No objection to letting I
cur cows exercise in good pasture if we I
have one. The main trouble is in obtain.
ing and keeping a good pasture; but
a pasture can be kept good very much
longer when the stock can be taken ont
and fed on proper food at any time when .
the grass gets too short, instead of let
ting the stock run over it all summer. to
gnaw 1t clear down to the roots.
Judging from the discussions at the
various agricultural meetings. the sys.
tenn OF stall feeding in sammer has gain.
ed in iayor with the dairy farmers