Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-21

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brief description Of each.
Wednesday afternoon.
The afternoon session WINS opened by the
reading OF Mr. Fassett's paper upon "Butter
Making" an abstract Of which has been pre-.
seDted 10 connection with previous meetings.
. In reply to a question, Mr. Fassett said he
did not wash his butter 10 the churn, but in
a tray or ON the brake. Uses square boz
churn. Had tried all kinds Of artificial and
patent coloring, but found. nothing SO good
as orange carrots.
Mr. Fassett was followed by Mr. Smith of
the board whose address on the General
Dairy Interest" has been previously reported.
Mr. O. II. Hubbard Of the board followed
Mr. Smith With an address upon ''The Win
ter Care of Stock"
Mr. Hubbard remarked that whether it
was the object Of ths'dairsman to. aAuce
milk in winter, or not, proper care was
equally important, since cattle that come
out OF the winter in poor condition coud not
yield the profit We should require 10 order
to make the business remunerative. To this
end autumn care is essential. When the
iced becomes short, or frost.bitten, it must
be supplemented with extra feed A bushel
Of grain fed 10 October aud November is
worth more than two bushels led in March.
When this is neglected, and the attempt is
made to make it up in the spring, it often
happens that additional injury, rather than
benefit, is the result, since the cattle have
become so enfeebled that they cannot assimi-
late the nutrilnent Of the grain that may be
fed
| For proper winter feed farmer must
have early cut hay, roots, and believe also
share OF grain. The best milk producing
food IS early-cut June grass. 1t is better
than clover and much better than timothy.
The straw Of early-cut oats is worth great
deal for winter feeding, even for young
stock. II should be combined with clover,
oil cake bean or pea meal, bran, shorts, or
corn meal. Roots, though containing so
much water, are yet very nutritious. This
is proved by experience, long continued.
They not only aid the digestion Of dry food,
but contain rich elements of growth.
know farmers who fat cattle upon turnips,
feeding up to three bushels day, with
little hay and no meal. Care is Of more
importance than food. Many who feed well
fail sometimes from neglect in this point.
Particular attention should be paid to each
animal, seeing that zach had enough and no
more, aud at regular times. See that the
little ones and the weak ones have fair
chance ; Don't let the underlings suffer by
being driven from their feed by the stronger
ones. This Injuries all, since while the weak |
ones get too little the strong ones get more
than is good for them.
ln feeding, always consider the weather |
Cold weather stimulates the appetite, and |
more feed is needed. When thaw comes, |
they don't need so much. To give stock |
moro than they can eat so that they will |
leave some, Injuries their thrift greatly. Mr.
II. feeds his sheep aud cattle only twice a day, |
watering twice, just after the feed is given. He
| feeds grain and sells his milk. Is not pre-
pared to say that butter and cheese makers
can afford to buy grain, and with early cut
bay and roots it may not be necessary.
Water ought not to be where it cannot be
got at by the cattle without wading through
the snow drifts, and being exposed to cold.
1t ought to he easily accessible and abundant
Stock must be kept in warm quarters, and
kept dry. There isn't food enough in any
farmers barn to make a calf thrive that has
to stand and lie ina wet place. They should
be we'll beddsd, and so fastened as to stand
and lie easy. Stanchions are cruel things,
especially for heavy cattle. With proper
stable arrangements cattle can be kept dry
and clean when tied with chains. The floor
Of stalls or platforms should be nearly level,
and the hangers little higher than the
floor.
In feeding horses different object is had
in view than with cattle, ard a horse needs
feeding three times a day. Oats are the
best feed for working horses Barley is
excellent. Doubts if IL pays to cut and
moisten hay for horses. Horses swallow a
great deal Of hay, when cut, without chew
ing therefore feed them long hay. On the
road horses should be watered with care
many are injured by drinking when warm.
Some experienced men never water when on
the road, or after coming in until they have
been fed and become cool. My own practice
is to let them drink often on the road, but
only five or six swallows at time.
A dry plank Aoor is the worst place
for horse to stand upon. 1t makes the
feet unsound A stone floor, resting upon
the solid earth is the best The light
should not strike upon the horses eyes as he
stands in the stable, nor should he stand in
the dark, otherwise his eyes will be injured.
Grooming is important. After work, when
horse has been standing an hour, the blood
settles 10 the limbs, aud the circulation
ought to be stimulated by rubbing. Horses
do best without banketing except for a
short time after work, If clipped they
| k.. llan nj al oil ha Nka IA.
applicable to the winter care of sheep are
similar to those for cattle. Sheep are very
sensitive to wet feet Kicks around the
shed, inside, are best There are no corners
for them to run against. Kicks outside
may be provided for feeding in dry weather.
+ Keep stock quiet. Excitement of every
kind is an injury, aud interieres with thrifty
growth, even improvement and productive
r ness Mr. Hubbard wound up by advocat.
ing the cultivation OF social life among lar
mers during the winter, and by thanking
Master Cotton Of the state grange for the
, kind words spoken by him 10 his annual ad.
, dress, commendatory Of the board Of agri-
/, culture.
Subsequently Mr. Hubbard spoke of thor.
oughbreds as dairy cattle, and said the prac-
, tice of breeders who breed for fancy points
rather than utility had impaired the milk
/ ing quality Of every breed.
/ Mr. Fassett said it is all question of trial
and experiment, and thought farmers were
/ not investigating the subject as they ought to
! do ina practical manner by actual trial.
Ga Wednesday evening DR. H.A. Cutting
, Of Lunenburg gave lecture on the White
1 Mountains illustrated by the use of the
siereopticon, Our reporter was obliged to
a leave at the close Of the afternoon session
r and we have no minutes OF DIR Cutting
lecture. .