Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-02-09
agricultural.
February on the Farm.


The work Of this month is but a con
tlnuatlOn OF the last, and though the day
are growing longer, no active operations
can be carried on in the WAY Of cultiva
ton except under glass. OF in the hot bee
in the way of preparation for early spring
vegetables. The stock, to he sure vii
soon begin 20 need a little extra care, par
tcuIarly COWS that are coming in early
and ewes or other breeding stock. \ cow
ought to be dried OFT about six or eight
weeks. At least. before sh" is expected to
caIyc. In order to be sure of this, it j.
necessary to begin before this time so Il
to do 1t gradually. We should bc@in min,
weeks before To dry of. Earlier than Thu
the COW usually gives too much milk.
while If II IS put oil much later she will
begin to inci ease the secretion of mill, in
preparation Tor the supply of the calf.
Begin to dry OF by giving little poor
or quality OF food, that l., Il feeding that j.
less milk-p 'Oduclng than the cow has been
having. and give Il rather ecanty allow
ance Of that. The flow of milk will soon
be checked 1t Will take several DAYS or
say week, to bring down the yield, if the
CIV j. naturally Il large mixer. After
two OF three weeks she may be milk d
once Il day and then cease. But the udlrI
ou@ht 20 he watched closely, to see tia,
milk il L does not becomc thcI. or clotted
..l.! Il there j. any tendency to this it had
better y" removed. As soon rs it becomes
ti t. -ud WItcrly in all The tcat> ii is al
r.hI. Ills ought to leave about five 81
So uo''i.r .or the system to recruit before
Gaining.
81 course very farmer understand, that
H., COZ, ~h"uId be carefully watched a.
,lr rriol for calving approaches. In
pcr cnce and good Judgment are very use
j. Tor i the COW l. Il lirge and first rat,
mi krr. the danger Of trouble is greater
'.ttn III case Of Il poor milker. \ little be.
i,e the time is expected 20 arrivc,the COW
should b. put INTO comfortable pen 81
BOX stall away from draft, of air and viii
= plenty of good bedding. Her ronditrl
from hat time till c.tiving ought to b,
kuoYH to her owner or the hcrdsma
every hour til She calves, not that >lIt
should be disturbed or in ruIrd upon. for
the les She is troubled the better, bat e
make SIRE . f rendering her assistance if il
becomes necessary.
In Il very large mriorilv Of case there
will t no occasion for interference at tlI
at the time of parturition Nature vii
usually take its own course. bu, if any.
thing is wrong it should be known n
once. and al the .liI rendered that i,
n ce,s;,rv. The management Of the cow
af or calvinr .honld be simplv tn max,
the animal rs comfortable as possible
Give a pail Of warm water. with a pint @
rye meal stirred into il. and repeat this a
short intervals, bat not over a pailful at ;
time for the first day. Give no Grain @,
other meal in her feed the first day. nm,
not a very Iar"e supply of fodder of an,
kind \ COW after c.,lvin~ OUGHT not +.
be fed with grain or any other stimulatin.
food for a week a few roots will do hen
good, There is no fever in roo :. and
they can be safely fed in moderate quanti
tes
In some ct>;.> the calf is removed AT
once and not allowed to suc>lr ut all.
These who adopt this method. and j
i generally the way in The dairie> {,
Holland. take The ground that if tie cal
j TO be- brought up by hand and not Il
lowed To run with the COW, the less ii,
sees of it the better. l he trouble of part
ing with it is AVOIDED us the COW does no
become attached to it. She doe, not no
tlce the loss and Is not rendered nervous
as she Is sure to be if 1he calf remain
with her few days. We see no soriou
Objection. however, to letting the two Re
man together tor day or two at least
and tins Is the plan most generally adopt
ed in this State. Calyes are apt, unle~
they are watched and prevented, to Gin:
I" one peculiar teal. and suck and bun
away at 1t often to the injury of that quar-
ter OF the udder. 1t Is best to have III
eye to tins and make it change to the 9th
er tcat- from time to time
AT the end of about a week, if all ha
gone well, 1t IS safe to feed up higher IN,
to begin to stimulate the production 0
milk. especially if there is no inflammation