BY THE ACRE.
Mr. Hiram Smith said in his paper that he computes his butter and cheese by the acre, meaning that his effort is to see how much dairy product he can get from an acre of ground. The herd of cows that can produce the most from a mow of hay or a given amount of pasturage is the best herd. That system which will take 1,000 lbs. of feed and get the most from it is the best system. He plows up about four acres of pasture every year, and proposes to reduce the acreage of his pasture thus gradually to the end. He grows feed for the cows on the acres plowed up. It is the cheapest method. He uses green feed, bran, straw, roots, etc. This gives the most milk at the least expense. He uses the submerging system of butter-making. A bushel basket full of pounded ice twice per day will keep milk cool regardless of weather. Cool the milk suddenly no matter what the system. Four pounds of butter from 100 pounds of milk is all he expects to get in summer. In fall, perhaps another pound, but it will not be of so high a grade.
THE HOLSTEINS.
Mr. Curtis, of New York, said a good word for the Holsteins as dairy stock. At the Cornell University farm they come in at two years, are milked seven or eight years, and then fattened for beef. He would not recommend this system for all breeds.
CALVES.
Mr. Northup said he can raise better calves on skimmed milk than on whole milk. Others agreed with him, and a few differed, asking what the Lord put the cream in milk for. Reply: to mix with butterine.
ITEMS.
Professor Henry mentioned some of the experiments now being carried on at the State University to show the value of different stock foods, tile, drainage, etc. He is feeding cotton seed meal, malt, sprouts, oil cake, ensilage, etc. Cotton seed meal induces a very rich flow of milk.
Mr. Smith thinks skimmed milk worth 35 cents per 100 pounds for cheese-making, for those who have a demand for that kind of cheese.
Mr. Favill, of Walworth county, set the teeth of the dairymen on edge, by asserting and proving by figures that he could make more money from same outlay in beef making in six months, than any of them could in a year from the dairy. Mr. F. will write out his experience in this line for The Prairie Farmer at an early day.