The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-02-28
pAlRYlNc.
Some of the Steps Necessary 20 be Learned
In Order to Become . Good Dsiryman.

In Order to Become Good Dsiryman.
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 con-
clude 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 expert
enee of farmers who, without knowl-
edge or experience, leave their fields to
engage in trade or manufacturing.
They do not appear to realize the fact
that they are engaging in a new branch
of business, and have much to learn.
Neither do they realize that eonsidera-
bic time is necessary to prepare good
farm for keeping cows. They are ap-
parently ignorant of the fact that it is
no easy matter to collect a fine herd of
cows that can be depended on for pro-
ducing large quantities of milk. They
generally think that 1t is an easy mat
ter to go out among their neighbors
and procure all the good COWS they
want They do not, as q rule, consider
the Importance of learning how to man.
age mich cows, and think that the
average hired man can milk them as
Well as d person who has been trained
to do this kind OF work.
A farmer who proposes to substitute
milk production for grain raising should
first acquire, the requisite information.
He would find It greatly to his advan-
tage to attend the meetings bf tho
dairymen's association that are held
nearest to the place where he lives. He
would also do well to visit some neigh
borhood where the majority Of the
farmers are engaged in the production
of milk. BY spending week id such 4
place he could acquire much valuable
information. He should carefully in
spect the dairy herds and take particu-
lar notice Of the peeuliaritjes Of the
COWS that are the best milkefs. he
should examine the barns where the
COWS are kept and copy 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 pro.
portion of each is devoted to pasturage,
meadow land, and ground for producing
other kinds of food than grass. The
water supply of the farms and buildings
should receive particular attention.
Much information in regard to the SCI
lection, breeding, and care OF dairy COWS
can be obtained from books. In addi-
ton to the standard works on these sub
jects, the annual reports of the various
associations Of dairymen are very valu-
able. The books are often largely the
oretical. but the reports contain the ex-
perience of practical dairymen. They
give the record Of failures and the
causes that led to them, as well as the ac-
count of success.
A farmer who has obtained the requi-
site 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, il all the
feed is to be produced on the place. Oh
these four acres, most milk farmers cal
culate 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 be short in summer. Atten-
ton should first be paid to preparing the
pasture, as some time Is necessary 10
form q good sod. Many dairymen stats
that unbroken prairie sod improved by
! the introduction Of blue grass makes as
fine a pasture as can be obtained. A
field that has been employed fol
several years for producing grass
for hay will ordinarily make q