Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-09-27
Farm and Household,


autumn = AEf o. NANNhH
The critical season Of thrift Of our cattle
and farm stock nro the times Of change from
grass 10 hay. and from hay to grass--fall or
spring. Il becomes al thrifty farmers there
fore 10 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 a. at any other season. and get-if We
except the first greatest rush and flow-a full
average quantity and better quality of milk.
In the fall there are pumpkins, which are one
oi the best milk and flesh producers and sus-
tanners when iudiciously fed in conjunction
with other feed rs corn stOver and other
matter abundant ut 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
winter 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 dminishes in quantity and quality.
Where this system Of feeding is practiced
cows will keep up for several weeks their flow
OF milk till january or later, giving q hand
some profit In milk aud butter The farmer
who does not avail himself Of extra fall feed
ing. finds his cows begin to diminish with
the decrease Of pasture, and shrink largely
with the first cutting frost, gradually shrink
ing till they dry off in December, or earlier.
4 good hard frost generally uses up grass
and forage. SO that thore is very little nutri-
ment left in it and although cattle may ap-
parentlv fill themselves-look plump and full
nevertheless they actually shrink in flesh,
for enough nutrimeut TO sustain the system
cannot be- consumed. IL is uuwisc for any
farmer TO cause his stock TO depend almost
entirely upon such grazing, giving them per-
haps IN occasional feed o. some poorer quail
ity Of roots. Regularity in extra feeding
should be the rule.
Many farmers have large quantities Of APP
pies. which they are at a loss what to do
with or perhap, they have roots. cabbages,
etc. all which can be safely fed to mich
cows and other stock. If their allowance of
salt is increased Let no farmer think that
because this can be done advantageonsly. that
it may be indiscriminately or iniudiciously
done An excess or full quantity given ut
once 10 begin on will act the same-pn 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 they will eat. An
illustration of i'll effects of over-catiug of ap-
pies by cows unaccustomed to them lately
occurred with an acquaintance, whore the
cows broke into an orchard and ate all tho
apples they chose They shrank and failed
in their milk. Let Il child eat as many ap-
pies as it can force down, not being accus-
toned to them and see what would he the
result. Had these same COWS been fed APP
pies, and gradually accustomed to them, such
result would not have occurred even had they
eaten all they could. or course, excuses are
to be avoided when possible, hut what is her,
meant is that comparative results are very
different.
In the fall then, the prudent farmer vii
improve his time and all his advantage; bu
he should not wait, but begin with Summer
and spring. He should plan his work before
hand pumpkins and roots must be starteS
in spring or at their appropriate season
The man with n single COW often understand
and practices something of this, and thereb,
obtains correspondingly profitable returns
What this man does with his one COW, tn
other man with his herd may do proportion
ally in n similar manner Not only Is Their
profit in thus feeding COWS, but similar prof
is gained by feeding all other farm stock cor
respondingly well Good stock in the fall i
a first requisite the keeping it good is tn
second; the regular attendance is the mai
thing Any irregularity in attendance is sur
to crop out and tell the tale. If our stoc
pass the transition of spring and fall safely
there is usually no trouble to be apprehende
during other seasons therefore it is wise {
see to it, and provide for these critital SEQ
sons.-COr. country Gentlemen.