The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1906-06-22
THE FARM.
Al Example Of Modern Farming,
THE COWS AND THEIR FEED.

THE COWS AND THEIR FEED.
On the farm here described the bill
for veterinary services during the
past six years has been $3.50, and
this was made necessary by an acct
dental injury TO one of the cows.
One of the cows is 10 years old and
Is stil vigorous ard healthy; she
breeds regularly, and gives milk
enough to make it profitable to re-
tain her In the herd. The writer has
never seen a thriftier, better kept
herd of cows. They are fed balanc-
ed rations every day Ike year.
Every feed consists Of three parts.
A portion of II is some succulent ma
terial-silage in winter; and rye, tim
othy and clover, corn, peas and oats,
or some other green crop in summer
A second portion consists of dry hay
or fodder. This is used to give the
manure proper consistency and adds
much to the convenience of caring
for the cows. A third portion con-
sists of mill products, of which Tires
kinds are used-bran, ell meal and
gluten. The proportion of concen-
trates fed depends on the condition
of the cow and is regulated by the
flow of milk and the consistency of
the manure.
The soiling crops used are as fol-
lows: Green rye, beginning ABOUT
May l, and continuing about four
weeks, or until the rye is ready to
cut for hay. Then timothy and
clover are fed till peas and cuts are
ready. When the latter is cut for
hay, the silo rs opened (about July
A., and silage is fed till early corn
tplanted May 81 is ready Enough
early corn is planted (about one
fourth acre. to last till late corn
(planted about June 22l is ready.
Late corn is then fed till It is time
to put it in the silo. From this
time forward Eilage Is fed daily till
green rye is available in the spring
No abrupt change is ever mnde IN
the system of feeding. Even The
change from green corn to silage ii
made gradually.
It will surprise most dairymen /,
learn that these carefully kept cow
are given ounces of salt each
daily. mixed with their feed. The.
eat their food better. and the owne
thinks they do better when givel
this amount than when the ALLOWANCE
Is smaller The cows are fed tire
times day, and the salt is dividsl
between the three feeds. Fine ta0l
salt Is invariably used: the cow
prefer 1t TO coarse salt
Every particle Of roughage fed q
this farm, including hay and all soil
ing crops. is cut in quarter-inc
lengths. Even the bedding is cut
this manner.
There are two round silos on TN
farm. each 10 feet In diameter an
"a feet high. These together hol
about 100 tons Of silage, and thi
quantity of corn silage is produced Q
acres, planted about June q. El'
ven men, three teams, and a tractio
engine to run the cutter are employ
ed I'm filling the silos. Ensililg b,
gins usually on Friday, 50 that III
s.iage may settle over Sunday. 0
Monday the filling Is completed.
CROPS AND MANAGEMENT.
There is no systematic rotation I
crops on this farm. 1t is not nece
sary, since every foot of land II
cdves an abundance Of manure ever
year or two. The writer visited Il
farm late in April. and only thr'
kinds OF undesirable plants were
be seen. These were not weeds
the ordinary sense, for they did n
interfere to any marked extent VII
= the crops. In a three-year-olG pi
Of timothy and clover. chick WEI
was more or less abundant This,
course, DISAPPEARED when the gra
began to grow vigorously lit
later. In year-old field of u
same crop. dandelion WIS more
less abundant. IN a small plat d
voted TO corn last year, and left i
early corn this year, shepherds pur
grew quite rank.
Every green crop grown on Ii
place Is utilized for soiling purpose
more OF less, the surplus icing co
verted into hay or silage. The GRO
grown are rye, timothy aud Glove
corn, peas and oats, and miilet. J
least two crops year are harvest
from most of the fields. The ara
crop Is 4 mixture. the seed sown b
ing as follows: Red clover, quart
timothy. 5 quarts; alsike, 2is pound
and redtop, pound. The farm
divided into twelve small parce
varying In size from one-fourth &C
to 2h acres. In April, 1908. six
ftiie'sisi' fb' ar o. acres M affr We're