Connecticut western news., 1885-03-04
FARM AND GARDEN.
AN OLD FARMERS EXPERIENCE
 WITH CATTLE.
Hints about Feeding. Treatment and Gep-
 ernl Management of Them.

Hints about Feeding. Treatment and Geu-
 ernl Management of Them.
 The farmer wants to know, not SO much what is absolutely the best feed, but what is most economical-some- thing good and substantial, and not too expensive, which he can raise on tho farm. Corn fodder, when properly cured and stored, makes good feed, but fl it is left in the field, or long exposed to the weather, 1t is scarcely worth the labor of cutting and shocking, particu. larly if the weather has been wet Wheat straw is not very nutritious food for cattle, but as most farmers raise wheat, it is good plan to have plenty of straw well stacked, to which cattle, during winter, may havo free accoss, and let them eat what they will. About tho best and cheapest feed for cattle Is good Timothy hay, with occasional feeds of corn. Clover hay may be fed to cattle with good advantage. Turnipa and pumpkins, where they can be suc- cessfully raised, make good feed for fall and early winter. Potatoes, either raw or cooked, make good feed, and the small ones cannot be used 10 better ad- vantage than by feeding them to cattle. Potato and apple peelings mixed with bran or meal, make good feed, partieu. larly for mich COWS. Cattle, as well as other farm animals, appreciate good treatment, milch COWS in particular do SO, and should always be treated kindly, and even petted. They will very soon learn to recognize those who arc kind to them, will take from the hand almost everything in the way of food, and seem
 to relish whatever is offered, simply be- cause it is given by a known friend.
 The writer has often seen pet cows cat
 bread, pies, lettuce, tomatoes, and other
 things from the table, and even drink
 sour milk, when offered by a recognized
 friend. Cows should always be milked
 by some one who is naturally kind and
 gentle, and 80 far as may be, by the same person-neyer by any one who is
 excitable, peeyish or impatient Cows
 harshly treated often become unmauage-
 able, while those kindly treated will be
 tame and gentle, and will not bc likely
 to stray of from homo or stay long away from it. Cattle should be supplied with plenty of water both winter and summon. If they get their supply from brook or
 spring, see that 1t does not freeze over
 in winter or run dry in summer. In cold weather, milch COWS should be sup. piled daily with water slightly warm, as this will increase the flow of milk. For : summer use, the nearest spring should be dug out two feet deep, and walled
 with stone or wood. A small pond may be dug out, or a substantial dam made across ravine, which will retain sufii. cient quantity of water. Where neither 2 of these plans is practicable, a we'll must be provided. Supply cattle with salt
 about once a week. Cattle should, by
 all means, be provided with comfortable
 shelter during cold weather. It is poor
 economy to keep cattle without shelter,
 for they will require a good deal moro
 food md even then, will not come out
 in spring in good condition, but will be
 very apt to be lousy. A comfortable 8 temporary shelter may be made on tho e south side of a straw-staok by setting !. stout forks deep in the ground, arrang. e ing rails or poles on them, and covering D with straw. Good substantial shelter
 should be provided at the earliest con- l venience. Young calves, during the tirbt V six or eight weeks, should get all the f milk they can use, for if they are ''stint. ? cd" they will be sure to be ''stuntod, " ,i and never become thrifty alterward. II
 is not best to let calf run with tho
 mother, but it should be let in to her
 morning and evening. Cows should be
 mixed perfectly c.ean at each milking.
 In buying . COW, 1t is an important
 point to know if she has been mllked j. regularly and clean and how long before
 calving she has been allowed to go dry.
 From four to six weeks before calvinR if
 the proper time to discontinue milking.
 Omit a milking frequently at first, seven
 or eight weeks before calying then milk
 once day for a week or SO, after which |, discontinue altogether. Cattle, if prop,
 erly taken care of, are not liable 10 con r tract any disease. When troubled with i, lice, strong decootion of tobacco is an 70 effective remedy. -Agricu'tartse