Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-06-16
Cows at Pasture.


We have all noticed within the last two
or three weeks the intense satisfaction which
tho cows have manifested on their return 10
the summer pasturage. The confinement OF
winter must have been irksomo enough To
them, judging by the frolicsome antics they
played when they we're allowed run on the
green grass. This confinement is one Of the
incidents Of our high northern latitude aud
the cold of our long winters
Ono thing will be noticed by every one Of
careful observation, and that is that cows
that have been we'll wintered, properly housed
and regularly and literally fed, will do bet
ter at pasture this summer than such as have
been neglected and half fed, as we often sec
them. There are farmers who undertake %
keep COWS, and neither feed them we'll nor
house them we'll. To such it makes but lit.
tie difference whether they have Ayrshires
or Alderneys, natives or grades; they will
have lot Of poor cows, let them come from
what stock they may. A man that keeps
more COWS than he can feed, who has dirty
aud ill.ventilated stable will not only have
sckly COWS, but his milk will be rank and
strong, his butter bad, and his cheese worse
Dirt except when scattered on a mans past.
ures, never produced farthing to farmer
There is no economy in dirt. Tho good far.
mer keeps no more COWS than he eau feed
well. If you 60 about the state, you will
lind poor cows and poor farmers, But the
poor farmer is altogether the poorer Of the
two. A poor farmer will make a good COW
into poor one, almost by a miracle while
on the other hand, good farmer will make
a very fair COW from poor one, or fat her
at once for the shambes. If poor farmers
could be disposed Of in some summary way,
it would be a blessing to the country and a
day Of jubilee to the cows.
A man that will starve or abuse such a
mild, beautiful, forbeariug animal as COW, is
fit only for the loneliness of the desert
Even when she is kicked and sworn at and
half fed, and, when maternal affection is most
strong, we take from her her first born, that
she would like to lick and rambe about the
green pastures with, so that we may make
money from her yield of milk, she still turas
up her mild eye in calm resignation, and
goes accomplishing to her poor and slovenly
shelter, without murmur or look Of re-
proach. What human beast would submit
uncomplainingly to such a fate 7
We always rejoice when the time comes
to let cows out into the pasture. 1t is less
trouble TO take care Of them, and as general
rule they do better on grass, which seems to
be their natural feed than on dry hay. Be,
sides we like to see them apparently enjoy.
ing themselves as they do We do not prize
aud appreciate the COW half enough. She i:
one Of the best gifts to the human family
The flowing pail of pure milk, in which are
dainties supplied for the sick and food for
the poor, which is both healthy and deli
cious rich cream, excellent cheese and the
rolls Of golden butter are a few Of these
dainties Of which we should not be willing to
be deprived. Her products are carried
wherever civilized man goes. How surely
she pays for every blade Of grass, lock o.
hay and kernel Of corn with her daily contri.
buttons and all she asks in return is enough
to eat aud drink, and that to be of good
quality. In eastern lands, the good "shep'
herds watch their Aoeks by night" and re
main with them during the day, seeking fol
the most fertile spots. Joseph's brethrOr
went TO Dothan for better pastures, for ia
cob had much cattle. We cannot migrate
aud take our Aocks and herds from place t
place as they used to do in old times, nor il
it desirable that we should. But we can DE-
what is better, and that is improve our past
ures and increase their summer feed and 81
save them long journeys. Our system il
better than that OF the ancients, and the cos
of renovating our old pastures is no grOate
than the cost and wear and tear of frequen
migrations to find new feed.-MaSsaohiSett
| Ploughman.