The Baltimore County union., 1882-11-11
WEED THEM OUT.

Judgment ana ScfcfN9N, III connection
with many farm matters, is beginning to
be properly appreciated. There was a
time when one potato or kernel of corn
was considered rs good as another for
planting; one vine or tree rs good as
another for fruit, at least to sell. Until
very lately weight was the only require
ment for butter At the country store and
pound of this delicate commodity had
its fixed price for the time being, re-
gardleSs OF color, age or quality. Only
the few who have for a series of years
practiced the careful selection and breed
ing of farm seeds, fully realize tho inn
portance of this work and the possibili-
ties OF the future; but the subject is
commanding general attention. Fruit
and butter are now closely graded in al
most every market and we are almost
ready to sell eggs by weight, thus dis
eliminating At once in favor of size and
freshness. A few farm phrases still lack
clearness. "A load of manure" and
ga days work" are spoken of as fixed
quantities, when as uncertain in value
as "a piece of chalk" is in size. \
closer discrimination is, however, fast
forcing itself upon the farmer.
Nowhere is selection more important
than among the live stock. This is
especially true in regard to COWS, if one
wants TO build up good dairy herd
There are a few things admitted by
every dairyman, which, nevertheless,
need to be constantly repeated and en-
phasized. One of these is the very
great difference in cows. We are told
there was time when cattle were all Of
like value and COWS passed rs currency
in Germany and Rome. That must
have been long ago, for now We have
one COW that dries in three months, and
another that gives her own weight in
milk every month in the year; one
which Yields 500 pounds OF butter in
twelve months. and another whose milk
may be "sei" or churned for days in
vain.
II Is hard 70 understand why so many.
otherwise good farmers. breed and feed
inferior cows. One-third OF all the
mich cows in the country are probably
kept i; IN actual loss. We assume ;ha;
cow which fails 10 give SOC gallons Of
milk per year, on m average. for four
wears after first calving. does not pay
her way. and that 6oo gallons ! wear
may fairly be taken Il the lclN; WELD
;ha; can give profit. unless the milk
is very rich. Bu: Sso gallons. ~ $500
quarts year, is ! higher WELD than the
average OF the million and ! hall COWS
in the great dairy State OF New York.
Thousands OF cows DO much better than
this: they can be found in every town
ship, and of;er whole herds average Soo
gallons per year. and some even I.coo
gallons and more Ii. then. ;here are
so many cows much better than the
average and % profitable - keep. how
many ;here mus; he KEEP; A. i los The
estimate o: oGe-;Si16 the whole number
! none too great. +oS.coo 70 soc.oc5
COWS IN New York alone 90 no; pay the
COS; OF keeping :.mes this number
in the United STATE,
Where ar these poor COWS ina; ca:
up the prof; Of ;ae better ones ; A,a>
some car be found IN almos: every herd.
\ satisfactory average WELD from the
whole herd 5e very deceptive The only
safety ) 20 naSe 4 daily record o: the
milk weld o.: every COW. This seem, -
gFea: dea. Q: work, bu; really !; is not.
lis easily wand cheAp.y done only ;r.-i.
and -; pays" every time. such are.
cord b-ings or: the difference in COWS
with grea: c.e1-ness. and leads the wly
70 l steady improvement: in the herd I
know two Gairymen who began a.;a COM
mon stock. cows that would average
abou; -; pound, o; butter year, with
o.: an purchases. excep: row and then
one OF good bull C1.;, bl; b. keep.n.
I !eco-t and making c1ref1. selections,
they uao-e :har doubled ;ae prodrc:.on,
Of ,te.r herd. T. ten year, the hcr!
Of one averaged go pounds o; batter .
year. and ;hl: u :ae other n1w aver.
ages o.e- ;55 pounds. Tae old, 0.s
lesson canro; bc too often repeated. -
For profitable dairy do no; 5uy COW,
bu: raise them Keep 4 care;1. record
Of every milking, and make freq
tests Of the butter quality Of every COW
milk. Raise the he.ieFs oi only tie
best third o: the herd, TO, the f.l5 l'.fs
COWS, bg; those Of the bcst record. U,e
only good bulis-,he hi. IS hal: ;ac
herd Dispose Of tao OF three COWS.
or, preferably. Of one-fOg:;h OFthe herd,
selecting the poores: COW BY TIE record
every year This is the vital po!a;-;o
make the dairy pay, cu.. the herd.