Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-01-18
Requisites i'm Diry Farms.

In the first place tie land should be
well adapted to grass, and sufficiently un-
dulating or rolling sOthat surface water
will be readily carried bff. Land that is
naturally wet and full Of swales or low
swampy places may possibly produce
grass plentifully, but such grass will be
inferior for pasturage. The best milk
will be made on upland or well-drained
pastures, but the soil Should have enough
clay in its compassionate be retentive of
moisture without being wet; for if it be
too sandy and dry, grass will fail as warm
weather approaches, and the feed in sum-
mer will be parched ard brown and liable
to be too scanty for the full sustenance of
the stock.
A clay loan is perhaps as good soil for
dairy purposes as can be had, though any
soil where grass is enduring and is not
subject to the objections we have named
will be well adapted to dairyiag, provid
ing 1t is supplied with springs or streams
of never-failing water. In our remarks
we have had especial referenceto pastures,
but it will not be necessary that the whole
farm be of the character " have de-
scribed, for the meadow lands, or those to
be used for growing hay, may be more
moist or wet than the pasturage. Not I'M
iiSd tlOpo VI Edy dIt plO-
duced from low and rather wet lands;
hence, if a portion of the fam is of this
description and can be used for meadows,
it need not be considered SO very obiec-
tiOnable in case the pastures are of a diff
ferent character.
Good water in abundance is another es.
sential requirement of a dairy farm. 1t
should be unfailing and well distributed
over the pastures, so as 10 be of easy &C
cess to cattle. Springs and streams of
sweet, clear water are, of course, the best,
though we have seen good dairy farms
where the water supply was obtained
from wells. In this case windmills were
erected TO pump the water from wells that
were unfailing, and by arranging the watts
or reservoirs so that the overflow could
be conducted back again to the well, a
constant supply of good, fresh water was
kept within reach of stock.
WindmillS are now built so as to be very
efficient in their operation, requiring but
little attention. Still, it will lie seen that
all such artificial means of procuring
water are much inferior to living spring
or stream, to say nothing of the extra ex-
pense entailed to keep up the needed
supply. The necessity for a good supply
OF clean, sweet water is imperative for the
successful management of dairy stock,
and no matter how good the farm may be
for grass. or however eEgibly located, if
1t fails in sufficient water supply it will
lack one of the most essential require
ments of a good dairy farm, and one that
will be sure to be fatal to successful
prosecution Of dairying.
Water is sometimes 50 located on farms
that good supply is furnished in pas
lures remote from the stables while little
or none can be had at the latter place for
stock. This will be a serious inconve-
nience even in summer, but in winter it
will prove an insuperable objection, be-
cause cows that are obliged to travel long
distances in the fierce blasts of winter,
wading through deep SHOWS, exposed to
the intense cold of our Northern climate
cannot be expected to be carried through
the season without heavy loss. In choos-
ing dairy farm then, look well to the
winter as well as the summer supply of
water. Another essential requisite in a
good dairy farm is that the farm be not so
situated that the cattle are obliged to
travel long distances from the pasture to
the milking stables. ALI excessive travel
is waste on the tissues which will be
made up at the expense of milk secretion,
and hence such dairy farms are objec-
tlonable. -Rurdl Nep Yorker.