The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-09-24
AGRICULTURAL.


autumn Care OF STOCK.
The critical seasons of thrift of our cattle
and farm stock are the times of change from
grass to hay, and from hay to grass-fall or
spring. 1t becomes all thrifty farmers there
fore to bridge over these seasons to the best
possible advantage; and in no way can it be
better done than by good feeding just pre-
vious to and during the TRANSITION stages.
Many farmers who practice on this principle
make as great profit from their cows in the
fall as at any other season, and get. if we ex-
cept the first greatest rush and flow, full
average quantity and better quality of milk.
In the fall there are pumpkins, which are
one Of the best milk and flesh producers and
sustainers when judicously fed in conjunc-
ton with other feed, az corn slower and other
matter abundant at this season, which it is
impracticable to keep into winter. Much Of
this costs very much less to produce than the
hay, grain, or other feed stored away for win
ter feed, and is better for present feeding
than these, and will produce more and better
milk, while the condition of the stock is i'm
proved and the system better sustained, if
full fed.
Extra fall feeding should be begun when
grass begins to grow short, to be increased
as the grass diminishes in quantity and quail
ity. Where this system of feeding is prac-
ticed cows will keep up for several weeks
their flow of milk IT'LL January or later) CIV
ing handsome profit in milk and butter.
The farmer who does not avail himself of the
advantage of extra fall feeding, finds his
cows begin to diminish with the decrease of
pasture, and shrink largely with the first cut
ting frost, gradually shrinking till they dry
on IN December or earlier. A good hard
irost generally uses up grass and forage, SO
That there is very little nutriment left in it !;
and although cattle may apparently fill them
selves (look plump and fully nevertheless they
actually shrink in flesh, for enough nutri-
ment to sustain the system cannot be con-
sumed. 1t is unwise for any farmer to cause
his stock to depend almost entirely upon
such grazing, giving them perhaps an occa-
sional feed of some poorer quality of roots.
Regularity in extra feeding should be the
rule.
Many farmers have large quantities OF apples
which they are at loss what to do with, or
perhaps they have roots, cabbages, &C., all
which can be safely fed to mich cows and
other stock, if their allowance of salt is in
creased. Let no farmer think that because
this can be done advantageously, that ir may
be Unfortunately or iDjudicously done. An
excess or full quantity given at once to begin
on, will act the same on the animal as On the
human system. The way to do is to begin
with small quantity, and gradually increase
from day to day till you may feed the animals
all lucy Will cdbs AL ltiuStTdIIUu Vi Ill eutCGS
of over eating of apples by cows unaccustomed
to them lately occurred with an acquaintance
where the cows broke into an orchard and ate
all the apples they chose. They shrank and
failed in their milk. Let child eat as many
apples as it can force down, not being accus-
toned to them, and see what would be the
result. Had these same cows been fed ap.
pies, and gradually accustomed to them, such
result would not have occurred even had
they eaten all they could. OF course ex-
cesses are to be avoided when possible, but
what is here meant is that comparative re-
suits are very different.
In the fall, then, the prudent farmer will
improve his time and all his ad-
vantages, but he should not wait, but be-
gin with summer and spring. He should
plan his work beforehand, pumpkins and
roots must be started in the spring, or at their
appropriate season. The man with single
cow often understands and practices some-
thing of this, and thereby obtains correspond
ingly profitable returns. What this man
does with one cow, the other man with his
herd may do proportionally in similar man.
ner. Not only is there profit in thus feeding
cows, but similar profit is gained by feeding
all other farm stock correspondingly well.
Good stock in the fall is first requisite; the
keeping itsgood is the second; the regular at
tendance is the main thing. Any irregularity
in attendance is sure to crop out and tell the
tale. If our stock pass the transition of
spring and fall safely, there is usually no
trouble to be apprehended during other sea-
sons; therefore it is wise to see to it, and pro-
vide for these critical seasons.-Coultry
IpntIpnnn