Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-06-05
agricultural.
DAIRY FARMING.


A pasture well stocked with all our best cras-
SEES, 50 that succession of growth will be main
tanned throughout the Summer season, Is, and
ever will be, during suitable weather, the per-
feet paradise for the dairy COW. Good grass,
abundant In quantity and easy of access, Is to
her, the very perfection Of food, and whenever
and wherever these conditions are fully COM
piled with, and the COW protected from inclem-
ent weather, no kind Of additional food will
increase the quantity or improve the quality Of
her milk. u
Whenever the quantity of milk cow msy
give can be increased by other kinds Of food
furnished her, the evidence Is conclusive TO Inc
that her pasture food Is either insufficient in
quantity or inferior In quality. 49,
During the seasons OF 1916, 1S47, and 1913
instituted series of experiments, which were
conducted with all the care was able to bestow,
for tho express purpose Of testing the value of
the various kinds of grain as cattle feed in con-
nection with pasturage. And in every instance
found that, while my cows obtained sufficient
good fresh grass, feeuing meal and shorts, either
with or without whey, would not increase the
quantity of milk, or the quantity of butter Or
cheese. But as soon as the pasture supply fail
ed to afford all the cows required, Or as the grass
became less succulent, as il usually does TO.
ward tho latter part Of July or before tie middle
OF August, found that each kind of grain fed
would increase the flow of milk, and conse-
quently increase the yield of butter and cheese.
From these experiments I came to the follow
ing conclusions, viz.
First-That buckwheat bran, when only the
best of the flour was removed, would produce
the greatest amount of milk, but that the cow
would lose in weight or fall of in condition
whether IL was fed in connection with whey or
water. Second-That oat meal would increase
the quantity Of milk nearly as much as buck
wheat, and that the COW would gain In weight,
at the same time, twice as fast as the cow fed
with the buckwheat would lose In weight
Ihird-that wheat shorts Costing at that time
$lo per ton, and before the mllers knew how to
dust out every particle OF four) were next to
oats in value for the production of milk,
Fourth-that barley would rank as number
four for the production of milk, and as number
two for increasing the weight OF the COW. Fifth
that corli-meal would stand number five for
mix land as number one for increasing the weight
OF the COW. But little Of the corn or barley-meal
was fed alone, but most of 1t fed with wheat
shorts, mixed In equal quantities by weight
My sixth conclusion is, that grass is better food
than amy kind Of grain for dairy cows, where
milk alone Is the object sought, and that no
dairymen on good grass lands costing less than
Soo per acre, can afford to feed 1t during The
Summer season in connection with pasturaSe.
Yet every experienced dairyman fully under
stands that cows require some kind of food
more succulent than that furnished by pas.
tues In the latter part of the season To maint lin
| full flow Of milk, and especially during n drv
| season. Sowed corn has become an almost
| universal substitute for the grass which the mas.
| lures TAIL to furnish until the herds are turned
| into the meadows IN the Fall. Acting under
the advice of the dairymen having LONG ex-
perience with sowed corn, and follow ing the al.
most universal practice Of those around inc 7
tried sown corn during the seasons of lS18 III
Il Al Gar of
sown broadcast, and quite thick, using from
three to four bushels of seed per acre. But
while feeding this corn twice each day. and ali
the cows would eat, l found that could moi
keep up the flow of milk and maintain .le
| weight OF the COW. The dent, or Western corn
was the first tried and, although the Weld No,
acre was enormous, yet the crop failed to pa,
cost, incu ling the cost of feeding it. Some az
periments were instituted to ascertain both tho
green ard dry weight per acre, which werq
Doth as astounding 10 me AS its utter worthless
ness as substitute for good grass. A sniff
cient quantity of this corn was cut Ia ,yaig, tor
pounds, AMI the green weight per acre estim,,
| TED from the proportion Of an acre upon whirl
TINS grew whch was found to be fracto,
oyor twenty tons per acre. The 100 nonnds
after being thoroughly kin-dred, were fonnJ
To weigh eight pounds, and the dry weight of a,
acre ,2oO pounds. After deductinp from mi.
| corn nlnty-two per cent. Of water, and max
| Ing TAR allowance for woody fibre, which III,
cows could rot eat or digest much better than
poles, the whole mystery in regard to il,
Vaiue as cattle food became rs clear as mud
Tho next trial was made with the Stowel
every cen sweet corn, which proved much bette
IMAM the large Western corn, but this grew AZ
large That most of II was left by the cows :
Inc other three crops were Of our commor
varieties, and gave much better results I'M
were an unsatisfactory, and, upon the whole
uhprohtaoie. l have fed some sweet corn /,
DAIRY cows, which they relish better and oar N,
cleaner than our comp ON varieties of feId cor,
out have not fed in sufficient quantities or will
suincieht care 10 test Its relative value as com
pared with good grass, for producing milk an,
nesh' From my experience with sowed corn
as substitute for good grass, am forced to III,
lolowlng conclusions, VIZ; First = That m,
eorn was grown too thick and too much in tn,
shaue 10 be OF any value. Second-Tbat tho
large Western corn, known as the dent or Or ~ !,
cornls inferior TO our common or smaller kinds
ihlru-lhat have never conversed with bn
one dalryman on the subject of sowed corn wb,
knew Tue cost OF growing and feeding am acre
oil IL; Fonlth--That / have not copyersed viii
solitary dairyman upon the subject who knew
io ,aiue oi an acre OF sowed corn as food fol
ms GARY cows, but as rule among dairv,nen
the cost OF growing and feeding an acre Of sow
cd corn is guessed at, and its value Indeed of Al
raluom' have come to the conclusion thai
sowed corn is better for any herd of cows ~
eat than board or rail fence, or even bette,
thah any stone wall; but have also come tf
tne conclusion that good grass is better thar
Inc whole matter of sowed corn NAV be sum.
iheo up In thus. II any person is engaged in
.he DAIRY business on II farm where he can
| grow corn better and cheaper than he can grow,
grass, 1t would be wise for him to sell his cow
ana grow corn; but if on the other hand his
farm Is good grass farm, he can grow grass
cheaper and better for his dairy than he can
grow corn, and should let his sowed corn ali ao
| TO grass. wi IL a'i ~
Every dairyman who has not already 90,
apart a piece of land and seeded it with some
one OF the foreign plants well adapted for soil.
ing IN connection with pasturage, will find d to
ms advantage 10 do 50, and as the months al
August and September are the best months in
the year for making the preparations and seed
ing the land, some timely suggestions in REGARD
10 'hls important matter may be expected by
the readers of the Times during the month Of
SUI Where no provision has been made by
@nlch full supply ofgrass will be in readiness
LOT tiie nerd by the usual time, for pastures 10
Iaii 10 furnish ii, remedy for the deficencv
| WIN pe found in the aftermath which will grow,
on almost any meadow, if the first crop is cut rs
soon as the grass comes in bloom, provided tLe
ia'iu Is IN good conditon-N. Y. Times.
|