Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-11-18
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
John Gould at Home.

This notice of John Gould, his farm
and farm methods is by correspondent of
the Practical Farmer. 1t will be read with
special interest by Windham county farm
ers on account of the local origin lin Gull
ford) of Mr. Gould's family, and because
his genial, homely and witty personality is
well known to them through his presence
at the Darymen's meeting year ago:
Wife and l drove over to "John's" not
long ago for a days visit. Notice, it is
Johns" not Mr.. Goulds. Everybody
calls him John. Don't you know that is
evidence of good fellowship? He has de-
lightful farm home, and wife that every
body likes even better than they do John.
He has a natural grass farm. He keeps
dairy of twelve cows. He has warm,
light barn with water in it, and keeps his
cows in there all winter without exercise
in the cold air. His is a sensible plan for
cows kept for milk only, without doubt;
but of course he gets laughed at and al
most abused by those who are way behind
him. 1t will always be so. The appear
ance of his cows and their returns are the
best answer. l never saw dairy in better
order when in milk, nor in more perfect
health. The day we were there august
1S) the nine cows yet in milk gave IT'S
pounds. Remember they are a winter dali
ry, coming fresh in the fall. Three were
dry and about ready to calve. Up to the
first of August they had given 500 worth
of milk, sold at nearby factory, begin
ming the first of last November. AS there
will soon be some fresh cows, the yield for
the next two months will probably average
greater than the day we were there. 1t
will be putting it low to say $500 in year
from twelve cows, and that does not in
clude what is used in the family Tor few
dollars worth sold to neighbors), and Mrs.
Gould don't feed her family or friends on
skim milk. l can hardly show as fine and
clean a strawberry bed as John can, and
am certain they smothered their berries in
cream, and still ten cows in July gave 6346
pounds of milk to sell. Old Beauty, a
thoroughbred Shorthorn, calved August %,
1891, and the day | was there, after milk
ing 35S days, gave Is pounds of milk.
During the cold weather of midwinter,
January and February, when all the cows
were giving milk, Johns hired man drew
out 10000 pounds, which sold for $207
John is doing his work alone this summer,
except that his father, who is 70 years old,
came and helped about haying. And John
and his wife enjoy it, doing what they can
themselves. l can hardly see how they
could do so well, and write so much and so
well, too. There were about 40 loads in
the barn of as fine clover hay as can be
found this year. The silos were empty,
but there was as good piece of ensilage
corn as | have seen this year. 1t is not up
to what John generally has, but good for
| this very wet season.
Now the question will undoubtedly come
up in your minds, why doesn't he keep
more cows and do a larger business? |
knew well enough, but asked him, so
could give you his answer. In substance he
sad 81 do not want to fill the house with
hired men. Wife and | are having good
time and doing well enough. | haven't
any tenant house, and, with my writing,
would hardly like to try the worry and care
necessarily coming with dairy of 40 cows.
Half way tended to, it would pay no bet
ter than my little dairy does now. To
make success of large dairy, should
have to about give up writing, and go to nc
more institutes in winter. AS it is, under
my wife's good management, one man can
tend to my II cows and do pretty well while
1 am away" Now, when you are tempt
ed to think that friend Gould makes his
money otherwise than from the farm, kind
ly remember that my opinion land 1 have
known him long, is that he is doing as well
now, financially, all around, perhaps, as he
can, but if he cared to give up his writing
and lecturing entirely, and push his dairy
ing up, as he knows just how, to three
times his present number of cows, he
could make his cows bring him $1,000 a
year, after paying hired help. He would
1 think, enjoy showing people that this cal
be done, but he is doing far more good il
the world writing his practical, sensible ar
ticles, right from the barn and field, anC
keeping few cows in a paying way. No
tice, there is no selling of fancy butter, o.
of milk in the city, but rather at the fac
tory at the same prices men get who 81
manage that they only receive $50, NOR
or less, from a COW.