The Portland daily press., 1875-03-01
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Professor Arnold on Dairy Matters.

and lecturer at Cornell University; and in
matters relating to the dairy is probably the
most skillful practitioner, as well as the most
original Investigator in the country. He is
preparing for the press work containing the
results Of his lifelong experiences and dis
coveries, which will be indispensable for all
persons connected with private or associated
diaries. During the present winter he has
been invited to address the different state Or
CARNATIONS of New England, and as many
more in the Western States. At the recent
meeting of the Board of Agriculture at VS.
terville, he gave lectures upon "Mlk," and
'The Needs of the Dairy" besides answer
ing questions by the hour. Farmers informed
us after listening to him, that they had
found out that they knew almost nothing
about these familiar topics. We have writ
ten out our notes which are somewhat dis
connected, as were the inquiries to which
answers were given; and have also inter-
mingled any information derived from pri-
vate conversation.
Butter and cheese are not mere luxuries,
but necessaries. Butter aids in digestion.
1t has been found that good cheese contains
twice the amount of albumenoids that is
found in beef, and therefore is worth as much
as an article of food. 1t is estimated that
thirty-five pounds of butter per annum are
consumed by each inhabitants of the United
States, and only four and one half POUNDS. of
cheese. -7,.. f..... .sa- -es
Profit is the object Of the dairy. As its
first need is food, that must be produced at
rate of cost that will not consume the profits
of its products. Grass makes the best milk,
and is the best for the farmer, as the cows
can help themselves without his aid. In the
drouth of midsummer when grass dries up,
cows will shrink and therefore must have
other food. They never recover their loss
from shrnkage, let them be fed ever so well
afterwards. The milk-producing function de-
ponds upon the activity of the generatiye or
gans, and will not be stimulated again till the
next season.
During drouth Harris Lewiso of N. 81. got
"a pounds of milk per cow, while his neigh.
bors averaged only 10, by feeding June and
orchard grass green. Feed fodder corn will
ted, rather than green, as it is easier OF diges-
ton and more can be eaten. Food should
not be overripe; it takes more labor to digest
such food. Early cut food is better because
it digests more readily. Food in its compost
ton should be adapted to the purposes for
which it is used, whether flesh, fat or milk.
Clover is better with corn fodder than corn
fodder alone or with the clover. 1t is a poor
milk plant when used alone, when fed green
it contains an oil which prevents butter from
keeping well. Bran with corn fodder is
good in hot weather, better than corn meal.
Corn contains fatty matter and is good to
fatten animals rather than to produce milk.
Brewers grains cause very large flow of
milk, but of very poor quality. Give cows
good food in abundance and in such con-
The easier it enters the circulation, and the
fewer the changes before it becomes blood,
the more milk will il produce. Dry food will
produce very rich milk, but that food is best
in aii respects in which the proper amount OF
water is found in combination. About 70
per cent. of water is the right proportion,
when food contains less than this add the
necessary amount; if more, it should be dried
out. Thus fodder corn with its IS per cent.
of water, should be dried before it is fed, and
so of clover containing its Is per cent.
Green food digests better than ripe, grass
before it has blossomed better than after
wards. Therefore cut hay early, not only on
this account but because its composition is
changed as it ripens. Timothy cut week
before it blossoms, yields go per centof yell
low and 40 per cent of white fat; but week
after, the proportion is reversed, and it gives
20 per cent of yellow, to 60 per cent. of
white. Yellow butter and rich nilk come
from early cut hay.
Water is an essential for the dairy. In
many places at the West, milk will not keep
over "a hours on account of poor water. Civ
ing COWS hard water to drink does not njure
butter, although it is not difficult to detect it,
as where they drink soft water the butter
has clearer and more waxy appearance.
The supply Of water for drinking should al
ways be made accessible to the cows. Care
full observations have been made by the lee
turer, and where this matter is neglected an
appreciate loss follows. In one case his
cows were obliged to 60 down the sloping
sides OF a ravine into valley to drink, when
ever the upland supply failed, and at each
time he discovered loss of ten per cent
three in the quality and seven in the quanti-
ty of milk. On account of the summer
drouth and poor water, western farmers are
letting their cows calve in the fall, and are
making butter and cheese very largely in the
winter.
1t is necessary to have good cows, and to
keep them in comfortable buildings. One
fifth of cows food goes 10 milk, four-ffths
is required for her support. Twenty pounds
OF hay will keep cow for twenty-four hours
without gaining or losing. 1t was found
that herd of COWS running in an open yard,
consumed thirty pounds each per day. BY
shutting them up in closely boarded and
well ventilated stable, with the necessary
comforts and conveniences, one half of that
amount was saved. In the heat of summer
it is almost as necessary to protect them from
the sun and from flies, as to guard against
the cold of winter.
In carrying on any branch of business uni
formity OF management is always an advan-
tage. Therefore keep up the fertility of the
soil, by saving all the manure. When you
cannot shelter it sufficiently, take it directly
to the field.
In dairy husbandry the most money is
made from native or grade cows; this he had
found to be true from his own experience,
and it seemed to be the concurrent testimony
of dairymen in the dozen differ
ent states he had visited the pres
ent winter. He was not able to
explain the phioso ply of the matter
Probably nine ,tenths of the COWS in New
York are natives, although most of them have
stain of pure blood. He had known good
success from crossing Jersey and Short horns.
Harris Lewis cows are grade Shorthorns.
The Jerseys probably hold out better than
any pure bloods Iu sele citing dairy he |
would not be confined to any particular breed |
but would choose good animals. Look into |
the inside of a cows ear, and if you find vel |
low oil secreted you may be sure that she |