The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-02-04
VOL. XXV---NO. 5.
From The American Farmer.
Selling Cattle.

Messrs Editors: was pleased to learn from
the last number Of your paper that the Deer
| Greek Farmers Club had discussed the cues
ton whether soiling cattle was profitable
l adopted the system of soiling many years
ago, and am satisfied that I have derived
great benefit from 1t. The extra labor at
tending it is not 30 great az some of the gen
tlemen who participated in the discussion
supposed Like a great many other problems
IN llie' the difficulties which appear to attend
them disappear or diminish when we at
tempt their solution. doubt If any person
who tries the system, after making the aeces-
sa1y preparations torit, could be Induced to
relinquish it. 1t is absolutely necessary to
success that this preparation should be
thorough, otherwise 1t will be followed with
disappointment 1t consists simply in max
ing theland rich where soiling maternal IS to be
grown, so that it will at the start produce all
that 1t is capable Of 1t will be readily seen
that one of the chief objections to soling is
removed if every square rod Of ground cul-
tivated for soiling Is made to produce four
fold more than 1t would under ordinary Gull
tivation, and this is easily DONE
A great variety Of soiling crops is neither
necessary or desirable. A first crop ofclover,
the second neverD green corn and hce7ne,
can be safely relied on to furnish the main
supply. Especially is the last article named
valuable, not only because it is rich food
and cattle fond of it, but also because on land
properly prepared for 1t it will produce four good
crops year, of more than ton to the acre
at each cutting. Superadded to this, re.seed-
ing becomes necessary only about once in
quarter of century. Iftreated fairly it may
be said to be what it Is called in Germany.
"ecerlasting clover" Its roots are like whip
cords, and penetrate the soil to great depth,
so that droughts do not seem to affect IT.
What is not fed green makes as good hay as
was ever put in barn. Cultivating this crop
does away with the necessity of using the
pillow to any very great extent in providing
green food, thereby lessening very materially
the expense of soiling
The other serious item of expense, in the
opinion of some of the members of the club,
is taking care of and feeding the cattle If
rightly managed this will not be as great as at
first opposed. This part of the business
should be entrusted to a single person; he
should have his stated times for cutting the
food, feeding the cattle and cleaning the sta
BILE, and 1t should be done with the utmost
regularity. 1t will be readily ascertained how
much time 1t takes to attend given number
of cattle, and then it will be known what may
be properly required of the person having
charge of them.
1t is not necessary to cut green food for
cattle each day, nor ID 1t desirable to draw
it to the barn and feed it before it has parted
with large percentage Off water. Cattle
are much more fond Of it in wilted state,
and they thrive better on it when given in
that condition.
If the farmer who enters upon this system
aohen he is readytor ii, will open an account
in which he debts the extra expense it in
wolves and credits the saving which 1t enables
him to make, he will be pleased with the
result He will not only be able to find his
cattle when he wants them, and keep many
more on the same area, but with what salts
faction he can contemplate the possibilities
of his manure heap, which, like the widows
cruise, will never be exhausted. Poor soils
can be made rich, and those that arc rich al
ready can be made richer still. The ratio be-
tween farm expenses and farm production
will be soon changed for the better, and there
will be less necessity for investing in COM
mercial fertilizers.
There are other advantages growing out..of
the soiling system which have no time to
refer to here, but they will readily be reveal
ed to any one who tries it.
/ omitted to mention, in its proper place,
that lucerne will grow luxuriantly in any
deep, dry, rich SOIL and make, larger return
for the labor and expense involved in its Gull
tivation than any other forage crop.
Neao York. WILLIAM FULLERTON.