The herald., 1896-09-12
Southern calIfornia Dairy
(Paper read before the Farmers Inst

Paper read before the Farmers Insti-
tute by Mr.. c. w. Sessions)
The Lynwood dairy and stock farm
consists of 327 acres, and is divided
into fields of alfalfa and rye grass for
hay, pasture, and the balance being
planted to corn, beets and other titled
crops.
After clearing the land of the titled
crops in the fall we prepare the ground
and either SOW oats or barley, which
comes up with the first rain, and some
times we irrigate the ground before pre-
pairing, so that the grain is up before the
first rain comes. This grain is either
pastured or allowed to mature, and is
cut for hay or ensilage.
The water supply comes from six ar
tesian wells, five of which, in a good
season, will run over 100 miners inches
of water. There is a reservoir of about
one acre, which gives us a good supply
to draw from in addition to the flowing
wells. The domestic supply comes from
we'll near the ranch house, which is
piped to the yards and buildings, so that
the stocKhave pure water at all times.
There are about fifteen buildings on
the place, all of which are in use. They
consist of residence for superintend-
ent, lodging house for the men, two sta
bles for horses, four stables with stan
chions for 245 cows, stables for bulls,
barns for storing hay and grain, five
silos. creamery, besides houses for hogs,
and in the yard there are sheds under
which the cows can get during rain or
out of the sun. The creamery is equip
| ped with all the necessary machinery
| for handling q large amount of milk
! each day. The ten horse power engine
| runs the churn, butterworker, fodder
and ensilage cutters, grain grinder etc.
| The steam boiler has a capacity of lif-
| teen horse power, which gives plenty of
| steam for pumping water, heating water
| in the sink, steaming cans, etc
! We milk nearly 200 COWS all the time,
| the largest number in one day being 21O
These all fed while being MIXED
The COWS are grades of all breeds, mostly
| Jerseys. Guernseys, Durhams and Hol-
! stems. We have fresh cows nearly every
, day, so that the number MIXED and
the quahtfty and quality of the milk
Should pc about the same all the year
1 EVERY cows milk is weighed once a.
week. sand record kept, SO that we can
estimate the quantity given in a wear
and tell whether she is worth keeping
Or not. We keep record OF the number
, OF. cows MIXED each day. the quantity
ot miK produced and the kinds and
| quaHttes OF feed given, and in that way
! canYnote any changes that occur in the
| quantity of milk produced, and. If nos
I sible, find the reason.
There are employed on the place about
eighteen persons, and four drivers of re-
taii wagons in the city. The field men at /.
tend to the general farming and have
nothing to do with the milking or barn
/ work. The mixers do the milking, feed
| ing. cleaning Of stables. etc The mer
! get out at a. m. the field men attend
| ing tol their teams while the mixers
prepare the morning feed in the mangers
and let the cows in before they 20 te
breakfast at 5:45. 1t is not necessary
for me to- follow the work of the field
men,. as 1t is the same as seen on any
farm.
AS soon as breakfast is over. the milk
ing Is begun, which lasts till $3.50. Each
mixer is expected to milk from twenty.
] nve 10 thirty cows The milk, as soon e