stended by innutritious food,
or the manyplus takes on that hardened state to which it is occasionally
subject. Breeders have been sadly negligent in this respect.

The springing of the udder, or the rapid enlargement of it from the
renewed secretion of milk--the enlargement of the external parts of the
bearing (the former, as has been said by some, in old cows, and the
latter in young ones)--the appearance of a glaring discharge from the
bearing--the evident dropping of the belly, with the appearance of
leanness and narrowness between the shape and the udder--a degree of
uneasiness and fidgetiness--moaning occasionally--accelerated
respiration--all these symptoms will announce that the time of calving
is not far off. The cow should be brought near home, and put in some
quiet, sheltered place. In cold or stormy weather she should be housed.
Her uneasiness will rapidly increase--she will be continually getting up
and lying down--her tail will begin to be elevated and the commencement
of the labor-pains will soon be evident.

In most cases the parturition will be natural and easy, and the less the
cow is disturbed or meddled with, the better. She will do better without
help than with it; but she should be watched, in order to see that no
difficulty occurs which may require aid and attention. In cases of
difficult parturition the aid of a skillful veterinary surgeon may be
required.

[Illustration]

Feeding and Management

No branch of dairy farming can compare in importance with the management
of cows. The highest success will depend upon it, whatever breed be
selected, and whatever amount of care and attention be given to the
points of the animals; for experience will show that very little milk
comes out of the bag, that is not first put into the throat. It is poor
economy, therefore, to attempt to keep too many cows for the amount of
feed one has; for it will generally be found that one good cow well-bred
and well fed will yield as much as two ordinary cows kept in the
ordinary way; while a saving is effected both in labor and room
required, and in the risks on the capital invested. If an argument for
the larger number on poorer feed is urged on the ground of the
additional manure--which is the only basis upon which it can be put--it
is enough to say that it is a very expensive way of making manure. It is
not too strong an assertion, that a proper regard to profit and economy
would require many an American