The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-01-01
CECIL FARMERS CLUB.
DECEMBER MEETING AT MR.. G.
W. GIFFORD'S, NEAR ZION.
An Interesting Essay on "The Improve
ment of Dairy Stock" Read and
Discussed by the Members

ment of Dairy Stock" Read and
Discussed by the Members.
The regular monthly meeting of the Cecil
Farmers Club was held on Wednesday. the
22d inst. at Mr.. George W. Gifford's home
stead. near Zion. At II O'Clock the President
OF the club. Mr.. John P. Wilson, directed
the call Of the roll of the members, when the
following responded to their names: Alfred
Kirk, James H. MAXWELL George w. Clifford,
E. L. Duyckinck, Robert X. Rawlings, John
P. Wilson and H. r. Torbert. The visitors
present by invitation were: s. q. England,
William Clifford, William Stewart and L. A.
Pugh, OF Oxford.
The minutes of the last meeting having
been read and approved. and reports OF ex-
periments being in order, Mr.. Rawlings said
that last year he began filling his ice-house
with three inch ice, laid fiat as usual. After
Killing his house about two-thirds full, he
laid the cakes which he cut about eighteen
inches square on their edges, completing
the filling of these edged blocks, which were
six inches thick. The edged ice froze into
had to use in season, the balance havin.
melted.
Mr.. Duyckinck thought if the ice-house
was properly constructed it did not matter
much how yoI filled it, He thought all ice
houses. whether above or below ground,
ought to be lined with closely laid lumber.
Mr.. Kirk recognized the Importance of the
, ice-house to the dairy farmer. He, there
fore, thought the manner of filling it a mat
ter of great Importance. The air must be
excluded from ice to keep it, He suggested
leaving space around the lining OF the
house to be packed down with fine broken
ice, to secure the exclusion OF air and tho
freezing OF the solid contents OF the house, if
possible, in a solid mass using the ice as
required from the centre OF the house.
Mr. Maxwell thought the character and
drainage of the ground had much to do
with ice keeping. He thought green oiTul
grass was the best to cover the ice. He
thought good ventilation also was essential
to the success OF ice keeping.
Mr. Duyckinck said he had recently built
galvanized steel tank, feet by 4x41I3, to
hold 1000 gallons. 1t has one partition act
ing as brace or binder, but nevertheless it
has bulged out eight inches. He thinks his
| mistake was in not having two partitions to
strengthen it instead Of one. The galvan
lied steel costs considerably more than wood
but he prefers steel galvanized if strongly
constructed.
There being no further reports of expert
ments, and the regular essay being in order,
Mr.. Clifford presented the following paper on
| THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR DAIRY COWS.
This is a subject on which there has been
much said and written by men who are in Il
position from long years of experience and
observation to form more definite conclu-
sions than l am able to arrive at. But have
my experience and observation which |
will give to this club in regard to this one
very important subject.
| In the breeding of animals one must have
a definite object in view. In this age OF
civilization, where industry is divided and
sub-divided 50 that each set of worknen
have separate and distinct lines OF work in
the makeup OF the most simple articles OF
Manufacture: 50 in the breeding OF stock
the nature and adaptation OF the Kind OF
stock he wants for his special purpose the
production of milk COW that Will give II
good flow of rich milk
The production of general purpose ami
mai has been the aim OF many breeders. In
all the great regions OF the west. Shorthorus
or Durhams and Herefords have been the
very best cattle TO breed from when only beci
is the object. If dairying is to be the chiei
industry would from experience take the
iuil-blooded Holstein COW of the best milk
and butter producing families and cross with
a Jersey sire of the best milk and butter pro.
ducng families, being careful to use animals
that are of good form. large and robust.
Breeders of registered stock are especial,
particular in the selection of sires, so much
so that many of them breed solely with
reference to blood particular families con.
tain, regardless of some of the imperfections
IN the form and general makeup of the
animal. BY using the Holstein COW we have
very good foundation. They are of sooC
size, nice form. being broad across the hips
| S'''h6 ioi 30 iOMS vi luIlh, STOUT, TCDuS
frames, having one very essential character
istic, that of being good feeders. Then i
naturally follows if properly fed and shell
tered they produce the desired result.
In the use of Il sire Of Jersey stock o
which | am an ardent admirer for sevcra
reasons; their color and elegant form an,
their docile dispositions with kind treatmen
producing moderate quantities of rich mill
and butter of fine texture and quality, an,
milking well up to time of calving. | re
gard this cross from my own experience a
giving me strong, healthy, good-sized, bust
ness cows, also COW that will command tn
attention of buyers and when sent t.
market the owner will readily realize a gooc
price, fully compensating him for the eXtr
care and expense of breeding and rearin,
such an animal over and above raising scrul
stock.
| have observed the methods some peopl
have used and who have been trying to i'm