Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-21
TUCKAH0E CLUB.
THE DECEMBER MEETING ONE OF
MUCH INTEREST.
Cattle, by Grazing or
soiling?''

The December meeting OF the Tuckahoe
Farmers Club Is usually looked forward
10 with great deal Of interest and this
meeting. which was held az the residence
Of II. Theodore Ellyson slf Park avenue,
was largely attended. and the discussions
on the various farm topics were quite IN
terestng and elected much comment from
many OF ito members.
President L. Puyear presided over tho
deliberations with ease and grace. and Is
q great favOrite with the club.
The Order of the day--a very interest
ing paper-was read by Mr.. James Bell
wood, of Chesterfield county. who came
here from Canada about two years ago,
and IS now farming about eight miles from
the city. He is much pleased with this
State and climate.
The following ia the paper read by him:
(WHICH IS TEE BHsT METHOD OF FEEDING
CATTLE. BY GRAZING on soILINc?"
The attention Of the agricuiturst has
never been sufficiently drawn 20 the great
advantages that flow from an abundant
supply of good, nutritious food for the
stock of the farm. As the quantity and
quality Of crops depend upon the fertility
and quality of the soil. 50 does the condi-
ton of our domestic animals depend upon
the quantity and qualitvof the food which
the soil produces, and although 1t does not
come within the province Of this essay 10
discuss the subject, | may say too much
stress cannot be put on the quality OF the
food, which depends on the fertility OF the
soil.
Grass is king" IS nm expression fire.
ouentlv used by agriCulturIsts, but IL it
may be- asked. Cannot some OF the other
crops put IN claim for a share OF the supre-
macy
It is an established fact that it requires
nj least three acres Of the average cult
waited hay and natural meadows 10 main
tain one COW or one store steer for year
This is 10 adequate return Tor these days.
when other agricultural products here and
elsewhere are in such keen competition.
The limit OF the American pasture IS 800
pounds of milk. or eIghty-hve pounds or
beef per acre for the summer or grazing
months. These a. one cent per pound Tor
the milk. and five cents per pound Tor tho
beef would give SIS and i2jrespectively;
While these figures indicate the limit OF
prOductveness Tor pasture rom sou
wealthy in fertility, as the fertility OF the
soil dminlshcs the returns III much
greater ratio would likewise diminish
II sometimes happens that the grass
on which the cattleare pastured although OF
iuxuriGnt growth may be nearly worthless
for dairy or for ccfpurposcs. case inpoiuJ
viii serve TO Illustrate. Tho milk from
herd Of cows which was being disposed OF
in butter fats and the percentage Of
cream. As the standard Of the nerd
in question had previously been salts
factory suspicious were aroused that all
was not right. When an investigation
was made it was found that the uns4lsiac-
f tory state of things arose from and was
caused by the quality OF grass ON which
/ the cows were f4eling. The milk appeared
/ iu.t as thou IAi been skinned. This
/ Incident WI. . t.-t even IN pastures
winch about. .l grass winch mav have
/ been forced either by too much ra'n or for
/ some other reason the grass 4. nutritious
and unsatisfactory.
Considering TIE advantages 0f pr turing
/ over the sOil.ng evsicm local conditions
viii govern the results, as very rough and
uneven lend can bo pa,tured to advantage
and the labor ln attending cattle on pas
| ture is very much Jess than by the soiimS
system. Some Of the advantages o. sell
/ Ing are that
II enables the farmer TO keep larger
number of stock.
! II effects a great wing in fences.
/ It Is q greater ecouomiZer of the animaFs
mu clio in not having tO 20 in search OF
[ food and tho labor Ia gathering 1t.
10 permits of the animals beng kept IN
/ shelter from the heat end uutayOrable Wea-
/ thor and Troublesome insects.
/ II greatly Increase Inequality and quan
. tity of the milk and beef.
! II very much enhances in the aggregate
| the fertility.
/ n am established fact that cattle dam
age more with tnoil feet ,hAn they eat.
IL I'M great measure enables the farmer
/ 10 overcome tho great los caused 10y
drought
lfproporly managed the foules' land can
/ be cleared OF u0Xious weeds. Annals cam
not survive q second cutting. Perennlals
ere cu+ before fhe seed forms.
While a very great deal may be said IN
favor Of soiliug. not much can be sat
against it except the extra cost oil labor.
Formerly ID Was cons der3d that u herd
OF COWS produced 5000 pounds OF milk du-
ring tue ordinary working term oi cheese
factory, which is about SIX months. that
thev wers doing well, but now by q partial
s0iing system the quantity bias been IN
creased 10 5000 pounds and even 6,OJO
/ pounds per head.
u would appear that topr0duce the very
/ best results cattle should BE- stabbed and
fed during the day when they could be
away from the heat OF the sun, and It tho
stable is kept dark they would be nearly
free from insects but they should be ont
on the pastures 20 Craze during the night.
which would give ample opportunity tor
! exercise and fresh air.
The reading Of the report finished re-
marks were made by Mcssrs Julien VI.
Rutliu, Thomas Pincknev, Frank Guy. +.
Furyoar. james Il. Branch. James Bell
wood, W. T.. Grant and Judge b. A. Han
/ cock.
The subject for discussion at The Jan
uarv meetng-"Wbich is the Best Breed
+ of Cows foi General Purposes was then
announced. after winch the club was hos
pitahly entertained. and q. late hour adj