The Telegram. — 1899-01-03 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

COWS.  There is a difference of opinion in regard to the time cows should become dry before calving, some contending that they may be milked almost to the time of their dropping the calf without injury, while others maintain that it is absolutely necessary they should be dried at least two months before, both for the advantage of themselves and their calves. This, no doubt, very much depends upon the manner in which they are kept. If they are kept in high condition, it will probably be an advantage to milk them up to within a month of calving; but when t.ey are only kept in moderate condition they aliould have at least twl months in which to recruit their strength. In the former state the risk of milk fever, or as it is usually called, the fall, will be reduced, and as it frequently accompanies high condition it is a consideration which should be borne in mind. It also appears that the longer the milking is continued the more free the cow will be from any affection of the udder. That the plan of milking to within a short time of calving ha 3 been extensively tried where liberal feeding has been indulgnd in without any evil effect constitutes a reason for adopting it in those cows whose milking qualities are sufficiently lasting. It must he admitted, however, that without good feeding it would he most unwise if it were possible to continue the milking process for so long a period. The plan of milking to within a short period of calving might be more generally adopted, if ordinary dairy cows were not kept in the dairy so long a time as they often are. From three to seven or eight years is the limit of time to which they should Int kept in the dairy.  The Rev. Edwin Tongue, of Handsworth, Birmingham. has accepted the pastorate of N orth Street Congregational Chapel. Taunton._ _  .• • The Wiltshire constituency which Mr. John Faller ioten,iv to woo at the next election is idatei to be the Western Division of the county. formerly represewed liy his tether. - • •  A man named Butt, in the employ of the le.nduti & Souch-We-t,rn Railway ar. Salisbury, has been seriously injured whilst engaged in ,thunt,ng operations. He hid his toot cut off, and was taken to the totirniary, where he died.  The Rev. John Daw3on, vicar of Holy Trinity, Westm-mper-Ma-e, ha l been presented by he friend with an illotnina:ed addres. and a puree of 200 sovere,gn in co onnemoration of hit vlden wedding and of his juldlee in holy orders, _ _  The Home Secretary has ordered the reb.a.o on license, from Aylesbury Convict Prison, of Ellen Lewis, 33. who, on July 28th, 1892, was convicted at ,he Hants Ae.izes of child murder at Ringwood, the death genteel:, being cominuted to penal servitude for life. The Rev. F. IV. Clarke, minister of Zion (Congregational) Chapel, Fr .me, who is leaving for St. Helen's, has beer presented with a band• ornely-Mominated and framed a !dress and a chequ, for £2OO from the congregation, in token of tneir appreciation of 23 yeti-8' faithful service. A further list of di-3 awards of the Volunteer medal is shortly to he :emed Irmo the War Office. Somer-et ad 8)-ion Engineers have rerasirei 23, the Ist V. 13. Sumero.t4ltire Light Infantry (Bath) 74, the 2nd (Taurt.m) 126, the 3rd (Weston) 74 the Ist V.P. Wiltshire I Warminster) U. and the 2ot. (Chippeul