The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-13
THE DAIRY.
CROPS FOR

Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
This is a very important matter with
the dairymen, as on it in considerable
measure will depend his success In the
business. Milk is the basis upon which
he works, whether he makes it into
butter or cheese himself or otherwise
disposes of it. First there should be
quantity then quality, and he who can
combine both t q reasonable extent,
will be the most successful.
Then there should be a class OF COWS
that will properly respond to rational
treatment, that can aud should be fed
and cared for to the best paying ex
tent. 1t will not be safe to go beyond
this point and comparatively few will
do it.
Where summer dairying is practiced
there should be abundant provision for
supplying the COWS with supplement
tary feed when the grass in the pasture
is not sufficient for the purpose.
In most cases this will be necessary,
and the time for commencing to feed
should not be deferred until there is al
ready q considerable decrease In the
yield of milk, for where this is the case
it will be found difficult regaining what
has been lost.
If the crops calculated for this pur-
pose are not in condition to feed as
soon as wanted, then something else
should be substituted for the time.
Certain kinds Of grain feeds, as oats,
bran and gluten, will answer a good
purpose-indeed, some Of the best dai
Eymen find it profitable to feed a small
amount of grain all through the sum
mer season, not only when the grass is
good but along with the soiling crops
finding this add g to the value of the "a
ton az is shown by the results at the
pail.
The kinds of forage crops to use for
this purpose will depend On the season
and location, as they may not be the
same in all parts Of the country.
Clover-frst or second CROPS one
Of the best that can be used as long as
it lasts, and where this most useful
plant thrives in some of its varieties,
it should be largely grown for this pur-
pose and for hay. Like corn, it Is
adapted to a large part Of the United
States. Rye, oats, or pease and oats,
can be brought into s before orr is
in condition to feed. There are kinds
enough from which to select if the
farmer is careful to grow them for the
purpose.
Corn more than any other crop is
raised for soiling, and with proper at
tention can be made to last a long time
in feeding, trorh using different varie
ties Of seed or planting at intervals.
Putting it in the silo for summer
feeding, before it can be grown for the
purpose is getting to be more and more
practiced as it's value becomes more
fully ~escertained.
At the West and South there may be
other crops than these mentioned that
can be successfully used for supplement
tary feeding.
Here also the grain feeds are 80
largely produced, and if they can be
p~roftably shipped Cast to feed to stock, |
then certainly it would seem there
should bs a good market for them at
home. There, along with the rich
grasses peculiar to this region, and
abundant forage crops ought to give
the best results in milk, butter and
cheese, in large amounts and of finest
quality, as is not being attained in the
growth and fattsning Of animals. 10
following out some of these methods
there should be correspondingly good
results in stimulating and sustaining
to a profitable extent the milk product
from the dairy through the season,
thus placing the business on a much
more satisfactory basis than is the case
where little or no attention is paid to
this kind of work.
Where winter dairying is followed
and proper provision has been made
for the purpose, there should not be
very much variation in yield of milk,
not 80 much as during the summer
season unless the conditions are equally
favorable.
E R TowLE
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mr. WAW mRRw ERWMW