The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-06-28
AN EIGHTY-ACRR DAIRY FARM
IN MICHIGAN.

6HH0ES0 FounQS 6uCCGf E&ch Year
Mr. w. G. lockwood, of Genesee
county, Michigan, one of our dairy
correspondents, is the author Of the
following rather lengthy but very in
teresting history of a success with
cows, which we clip from Hoard's
Dairyman. Tic tells of actual expert
ence, and we believe it will interest all
dafrymen and ell those progressive
COW owners who hope to be dairymen.
He says:
Whenever / am i'm need OF inspira
ton along dairy lines. I go for a visit
to certain friends OF mine, III an adjoin
ing township. Seldom does this fail to
fire within me fresh zeal and enthusi.
asm for this most excellent line of ag-
riculture. / feel sure your readers
would en- ~ such q visit, too, but since
this is impossible for the great ma.
jority Of them, perhaps / may be able
TO tell them something Of interest con-
corning this farm, and it's wide awake
proprietorF.
The farm in question lies one mile
and a han from the village of Grand
Blanc, in Genesee county, and consists
OF only eighty acres. / say ''only,"
since about everybody seems to carry
the idea that in order to be much of q
farmer, @ nan must have twice that
amount Of land, at least.
But I want TO tell you what is &C.
complished on this farm, and it ia not
by nature q very productive soil,
either-a gravelly sand rising in knobs
here and there throughout the fields.
Indeed, the proprietor was told when
he bought it that he could not make O
living on it. John Dawson has owned
and lived upon the farm for the past
56 years. Here he brought his bride,
and here they will remain as long as
they live. For the last 80 years, their
son has been interested with the father,
and the home of himself and family il
at the homestead.
There are about thirty head of Jer-
sey cattle maintained on the farm the
year around, besides four horses. ALI
the food for the stock is grown upon
the place, with the exception of bran,
about five tons of this being purchased
each year. Corn is the main depend,
ence, both for rough fodder and for
grain. The COWS rarely get hay. Their
grain ration is corn meal ground with
out the cob and bran, mixed half and
half. Each cow is fed with an eye to
her own Individual needs, with no re-
gard, whatever, TO what her neighbor
receives, a plan which has the endorse
ment of every true dairyman. The
corn stalks are shredded and fed dry,
as we'll as Che grain-the two are not
mixed together in feeding. ALI the
grain is ground upon the farm by
means OF a mill and tread power, thus
saving miiIers' toll, which is quite an
item.
Mr.. Dawson has no silo. When
asked il he purposed erecting one, he
replied that he felt pretty well satisfied
without one, since his COWS average
him over 800 pounds Of butter per
year. This is an average to be proud
OF, certainly, in 10 large q herd, yet we
are we'll enough acquainted with Mr..
d. to know that he ia always tryingto
do q little better, and feel sure when he
reaches the point where he considers
the silo will be an advantage, he will
build one.
The first Jersey bull ever brought
into this township was owned by Mr..
Dawson, over % years ago, when Jer-
seys were looked upon with considera-
able suspicion, and considered suitable
principally for pets, r lawn ornaments.
It is needless to say that opinion has
since been changed.
In approaching the farm, one is
struck with the fne appearance of it's
buildings. They r large and com
modious, as well as models OF neatness
and convenience, and all the work of
the owners from end to end. Both
father and son are practical machin
lists, as we'll as builders, and never pay
out a cent for work of this kind. This,
of course, ia a great saving. About
the premises, from front gate to back
lot fence, there is nothing unsightly to
meet she eye. No rubbish 10 ever
allowed, and not q stick or stone or bit
of board breaks the fresh green Of the
sod anywhere about the yard. Flowers
and shrubbery surround the dwelling
on every side.
But it is OF the COW barn and deiry
house we partially wish to speak. The
COW barn is provided with every con