Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1878 — Autumn Care of Stock. [ARTICLE]

Autumn Care of Stock.

A correspondent of the Country Gentleman makes the following suggestions: The critical seasons of thrift of our cattle and farm stock are the times of change from grass to hay and from hay to grass—fall or spring. It becomes all thrifty farmers therefore to bridge over these seasons to the best possible advantage; and in no way can it be better done than by good feeding just previous to and during the transition stages. Many farmers who practice on this principle make as great profit from their cows in the fall as at any other season, and get, if we except the first greatest rush and flow, a full average quantity and better quality of milk. In the fall there are pumpkins, which are one of the best milk ana flesh producers and sustainers when judiciously fed in conjunction with other feed; as cornstalks and other matter abundant at this season, which it is impracticable to keep into winter. Much of this costs very much less to produce than the hay, grain, or other feed sifited away for winter feed, and is better for present feeding than these, and will produce more and better milk, while the condition of the stock is improved and the system better sustained if full fed. Extra fall feeding should be begun when grass begins to grow short, to be increased as tlie grass diminishes in quantity and quality. Where this system of feeding is practiced, cows will keep up for several weeks their flow of milk (till January or later), giving a handsome profit in milk and butter. The farmer who does not avail himself of the advantage of extra fall feeding, finds his cows oegin to diminish with the decrease of pasture, and shrink largely with the first cutting frost, gradually shrinking till they dry off in December or earlier. A good hard frost generally uses up grass and forage, so that there is Very ltttle nutriment left in it; and although cattle may apparently fill themselves (plump and full), nevertheless they actually shrink In flesh, for enough' nutriment to sustain the system cannot be obtained. It is unwise for any farmer to cause his stock to depend almost entirely upon such grazing, giving them perhaps an occasional feed of some poorer quality of roots. Regularity in extra feeding should be the rule. Many farmers have large quantities, of apples, which they are at a loss what to do with, or perhaps they have roots,- cabbages, etc., all which can be safely fed to milch-cows and other stock, if their allowance of salt is increased. net no farmer think that because this can be done advantageously, that it may be indiscriminately or injudiciously done. An excess or full quantity given act the same on the animal as oh the human system. The way to do is to begin with a small quantity, and gradually increase from day to day till you have fed -the animals all they will eat. An illustration of ill effects of over-eat-ing apples by cows unaccustomed to them lately occurred with an acquaintance, where the cows broke into an orchard and ate all the apples they chose... They shrank and failed in their milk. Let a child eat as many apples as it can force down, not being accustomed to them, and see what would be the result. Had these same bows been fed apples, and gradually accustomed to them, such result would not have occurred, even had they eaten all they could. Df course, excesses are to be avoided when possible, but what ts-here .meant is. that.comparative resujts are very different. In the fall, tl>en H thj> prudent farmer will improve his time and all bis ad vantages; bnt be should not wait, but begin wjth summer and spring. He should plan his work beforehand;

pumpkins and roots must be started in spring or at their appropriate season. The man with cow often understands and practices something of this, and thereby obtains correspondingly profitable returns. What this man doos with his one cow, the other man with his herd may do proportionally in a similar manner. Not oniv is their profit in thus feeding cows, but similar profit is gained by feeding all other farm-stock correspondingly well, Good stock in the fall is a first requisite; the keeping it good is the second; the regular attendance is the main thing. Any irregularity in attendance is sure to crop out and tell the, ta|e f If our stock pass the transition of spring and fall safely, there is usually no trouble to be apprehended during other seasons; therefore it is wise to see to it and provide for these critical seasons.