New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-04-01
Preparing for Dairying.

Preparing for Dairying.
Every year many farmers become
tired of raising grain for the market
and resolve to engage in the business
OF producing milk. They read of the
large profit others realize from COWS
and conclude that it would be policy
for them to devote their farms to the
keeping of cows. They generally
make the change in hurry and suffer
the sad experience of farmers who
without knowledge or experience
leave their fields to engage in trade or
manufacturing. They do not appear
to realize the fact that they are engag-
ing in a new branch of business, and
have much to learn. Neither do they
realize that considerable time is neces-
sary to prepare grain farm for keep.
ing cows. They are apparently ignor-
ant OF the fact that it is no easy matter
to collect fine herd of COWS that can
be depended on for producing large
quantities of milk. They generally
think that it is an easy matter to 90
out among their neighbors and pro-
cure all the good cows they want.
They do not, as a rule, consider the
Importance OF learning how to manage
mich COWS, and think that the average
hired man can milk them as well as
person who has long been trained to
do this kind of work. They engage in
milk production in haste only to re-
pent OF it at leisure. The change they
make was a proper one, but it was
made in an improper manner.
A farmer who proposes to substitute
milk production for grain raising
should first acquire the requisite in III.
formation. He would find it greatly
to his advantage to attend the meet
ings OF the dairymen's association that
are held nearest to the place where he
lives. He would also do we'll to visit
some s1eighborhood where the majority
OF the farmers arc engaged in the pro-
duction OF milk: BY spending a week
in such a place he could acquire much
valuable information. He should
carefully inspect the dairy herds and
take particular notice of the peculiar
tiles OF the COWS that are the pest milk
ers. He should examine the barns
where the COWS are kept and copy a
description of the ONE that is of a size
to shelter the number of COWS his farm
will support. He should examine the
farms and see how they are arranged,
and what proportion of each is devoted
to pasturage, meadow land, and
ground for producing other kinds of
foods than grass. The water-suppIy of
the farms and buildings should receive
particular attention. Inquiry should
be made IN regard to the workings of
different kinds of pumps and the adj
vantages of each. If pipes are EN-.
ployed to convey water from springs
he should notice how they are ar
ranged. The manner of feeding the
COWS during the season they are not in
pasture should receive particular at
tention, end the operation of milking
should be carefully noticed.
Much information in regard to the
selection, breeding, and care of dairy
COWS can be obtained from books. In
addition to the standard works on
these subjects, the annual reports of
the various associations of dairymen
are very valuable. The books are often
largely theoretical, but the reports
contain the experience of practical
dairymen. They give the record of
failures and the causes that led ia
them, as we'll the account of success.
A farmer can spend winter very
proftably in studying the books and
reading the minor publications that
pertain to dairying. His leisure at
other seasons of the year he can spend
with equal profit in visiting farms de-
voted to the production of milk.
A farmer who has obtained the re-
quisite amount of information in the
ways suggested can commence to plan
and prepare his place for keeping
cows. Experience shows that about
four acres will be required for every
cow, If all the feed is to be produced
on the place. OF these four acres.
most milk farmers calculate that two
should be in pasture, one in grass, to
be cut and cured for hay, and one in
grain, roots, and crops to be used for
soiling purposes in case the feed in the
pasture should be short in summer.
Attention should first be paid to pre-
pairing the pasture, as some time is
necessary to form good sod. Many
dairymen state that unbreken prairie
sod improved by the Introduction of
blue grass makes as fine pasture as
can be obtained. A field that has been
employed for several years for produc.
ing grass for hay will ordinarily make
a good pasture. Ii the grass is chiefly
timothy it will be advisable to sow the
seeduof the fine grasses on the sod and
to cover it with a light harrow. A va
riety,of grasses and clovers ls desira-
BILE in pasture intended Tor mich
cows. The pasture should be well sup.
piled 'with pure water and arrange
ments made for having it in mcre than
one place if the pasture is large one.
Cows that are giving milk should not
be obliged to go a long distance to OBJ
tain water during the heat of summer.
Trees for, producing shade should be
planted in several places. They will
be great advantage to the cowsSdur-
ing the months of July and August.
The selection of a herd of dairy COWS
should be matter OF considerable
time. A farmer may often be the
gamer bysraising them. By obtaining
bull OF q good milking family and Of
ono If Tho rooCu, ;1<,d So;r,,