Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-02
soiling Cattle.
nlatll.

This means nothing more nor less
than carrying the green feed of sum
mcr TO the cattle in the barn or shed,
instead Of driving the cattle to the
feed in the field That this will ulti-
matcly become the practice of all
good farmers we firmly believe. The
advantages Of the system are thus
presented by the Connecticut Farmer ::
There is no doubt but the system Of
soilng cattle ought to be praciiced on
many Of our farms, and could be done
t. immense advantage. Take an ofdn.
ary farm OF say one hundred acres.
which keeps fifteen TO twenty head OF
COWS. il by more thorough cultivation,
and soilinc, the same number could be
kept on fifty acres, with the increase in
the quantity OF manure that would
come from that system when properly
managed, would not the profit be double
what Il il nowg And then by constant
enrichment. il that City acre farm could
be- divided again and twenty five be
made TO keep the same amount Of stock
that the one hundred formerly did, it is
easy TO see what vast increase there
would be in the actual profit. IL IL true
that on some Of our rough, rocky farms,
that exist in portions Of the State, the
old pasture may still be worth more as
pasture than for any other purpose,
even though they do have the Sleeps
noses to grind; but we know of pas.
tures that are as smooth and free from
stone, ~ any portion Of the farm, and
the land as capable Of producing any
kind OF crop.
l. ii not an actual, and useless waste
to give these acres up 10 the range Of
stock year after year2 The urine Is all
wasted, and the more solid portions of
the manure almost equally so. And
there are portions Of the summer at
least when the cows will get but a scan.
ty subsistence, and the flow of milk will
be reduced to almost nothing. by a
judcious system Of soiling, these pas
lures could be made 20 produce twice
the amount, or more of feed, in season
that they now do. and of a quality
which Tor milk production is no doubt
double in value. Rye, clover, oats, peas,
hungarian, sorghum and corn, may fol.
low in succession. all through the sea.
son. If cool open sheds are provided
~ think the cows are ne we'll off, and
as contented as il they had the range Of
the pasture all the while. They should
have an opportunity 10 exercise in an
open lot or yard occasionally. But il is
tho nature Of cows, when they have
eaten a sufficient quantity to satisfy
themselves. TO remain quiet and chew
the cud. Why could not this be done
in open sheds as well rs under the trees
of the pasturel Give roomy stall with
plenty to eat, and good water to drink,
and the COW is in perfect contentment.
We believe the milk would be better
than when the cows blood is heated by
constant feeding in the sun, and by be.
ing driven home from pasture, and not
always in the gentlest way.
The arguments in favor Of soiling may
be briefly summed up as follows More
than double the amount of stock on the
same number of acres. or half the mum.
ber Of acres for the same amount of
stock, less expense in fencing pastures,
more than double the quantity of ma.
nure, and large increase in the average
flow of milk through the season. Good
cows will pay only as they are we'll kept.
And we believe experiments will prove
that soiling Is The system Of the present
as we'll as future agriculture.
Plow up two or three or more acres of
the pasture lot this fall and enrich a
part of IL with some kind Of fertilizer
for a crop Of rye next spring. on snoth.
er part put oats, double the quantity OF
seed that you would put for harvesting
the same, and on the remainder corn
for fodder. Try the plan Of soiling care.
| fully at first, and we think II will not
be abandoned, but increased to large
extent, and that experiment will fully
demonstrate that the same number OF
animals may be maintained by soiling,
in equally good or better condition, on
less than half the quantity OF land that
! Is required to support them in pasture.