685 qts. Milk sold at 6c. $41.10
464 qts. Skim-milk sold at 2½c. 11.60
------
Sales $52.70
670 qts. Milk used @ 6c. 40.20
127 lbs. Butter made @ 30c. 38.10
------
Year’s return $131.00
=======
Memorandum—Cost keeping $75.65
Less sales 52.70
------
$22.95
Plus purchases—
55 qts. Milk @ 6c. 3.30
53 lbs. Butter @ 30c. 15.90
------
Cow products cost family $42.15
An absolute profit of fifty-five dollars from the cow is shown, and a
still larger saving in family expenses, besides nine hundred quarts of
skim-milk and butter-milk used in the house and poultry-yard and given
away. The yield of the cow shows “June” to be a superior animal, and
that is what the keeper of one cow should have, for it costs little more
in food and care than an ordinary one. But if the cow had been only
of medium quality and no new milk could be sold, it would have been a
profitable operation. And if, instead of selling new milk, as much butter
had been made as possible, there would still have resulted a balance of
over twenty dollars in favor of the cow.
[Illustration: Fig. 4.—PLAN OF VILLAGE LOT AND SURROUNDINGS.]
MAY 1ST, 1880.—(To come within the required limits of this paper the
journal of the last two years must be condensed. Therefore, omitting
detailed descriptions, the general facts are given, and some opinions
derived from the five years recorded.) For the year ending May, 1879, the
method of keeping “June” was much the same as in that last described,
but more roots were raised and fed; some hay was made, and only straw
and grain food purchased. The result was even better than that shown by
the last account. During the year just ended, the fifth since “June” was
bought, I tried soiling, keeping the cow in stall and yard almost all
the time, and have actually got through without buying hay or straw,
using only one acre and a quarter to produce all the long forage needed.
There is so much left over that I am satisfied one acre well managed,
the preparation beginning the previous fall, can be made to support my
cow, with the exception of the grain food and part of the roots. But
this requires more time for labor than I can give, and more manure than
one cow makes. I have had to buy fertilizers during the last two years,
and although they were good, I prefer hereafter to buy food and make
manure, rather than buy manures to make food. For one situated as I am, a
semi-soiling system, or limited pasturage helped out with other food, is
better, even if more food is bought. I can be surer of what I purchase,
and thus use the one cow to better advantage.
[Illustration: Fig. 5.—EAST END OF STABLE IN 1870.]
[Illustration: Fig. 6.—PLAN OF STABLE IN 1870.]
[Illustration: Fig. 7.—SOUTH SIDE OF STABLE AS ADAPTED FOR POULTRY IN
1871-5.]
[Illustration: Fig. 8.—PLAN OF STABLE, 1871-5.]
[Illustration: Figs. 9 and 10.—EAST AND SOUTH ELEVATIONS OF STABLE, AS
CHANGED FOR POULTRY AND COW IN 1875.]
[Illustration: Fig. 11.—MAIN FLOOR PLAN AS CHANGED FOR COW IN 1875.]
The only secret of home-made manure is to save everything, especially all
liquids, mix everything as already explained, fork over and keep compact,
to make a homogenous compost, and keep all under cover until used. A very
slight and cheap protecting shed will suffice.
[Illustration: Fig. 12.—FRONT ELEVATION AS CHANGED IN 1878.]
[Illustration: Fig. 13.—PLAN OF BARN BASEMENT WITH NEW STONE FOUNDATIONS,
1878.]
As to housing, I began with a plain frame stable found upon the
place, made originally for one horse and a buggy, and have gradually
changed and added to it, doing most of the work myself, until a very
satisfactory building has resulted. It contains room enough for a year’s
forage, including root-cellar, a warm, dry stall, conveniently arranged
for saving labor, ample shed-room for compost, and a sheltered yard
containing five or six square rods, which is as good as more. There is
running water in the yard. The plans accompanying this article, figs. 5
to 13 inclusive, show these arrangements better than any description in
writing.
“June” had her fifth calf September sixth, 1878, and her sixth exactly
a year later. At the fifth calving there was a “false presentation,”
and a very serious time. No competent veterinarian was within reach,
or else one would have been called. As it was, I looked up the subject
in back volumes of agricultural papers and other publications, went to
work myself, and getting the calf into proper position, succeeded in
effecting a delivery without serious consequences. Last September’s calf
was a heifer, and by a fine sire, so, as “June” has reached her prime, if
not passed it, I am raising this calf to make a new cow to succeed the
worthy dam. Most keepers of one cow, however, are so situated that they
had better dispose of calves at once. Making veal is not as profitable as
making butter, and feeding skim-milk to children and chickens.
In order to have the products of the cow perfectly satisfactory, I lay
great stress upon the utmost care and cleanliness in milking. First,
see that the stall and all about it is in order, pure air, and no dust
flying, and the udder and flank of the cow quite clean. Except in the
coldest weather, the udder is sponged off with tepid water, and wiped
dry, just before milking. Then I trust no one to milk for me, but do it
myself, quietly, quickly, and completely, milking into a funnel, which
carries the fluid to a covered pail, which serves also a seat. This new
and truly “Perfect” milking-pail, which I first saw described in the
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, is a great improvement on all open vessels. I
prefer not to have the cow eating while I milk; she should give her whole
attention to the operation, as well as the milker. This certainty that
my milk reaches the house absolutely pure, not only satisfies us as to
our own cream and butter, but makes “June’s” milk in great demand in the
neighborhood. Our neighbors so much prefer it to milkmen’s milk that they
are willing to send to the house for it, and pay more than the usual
village price. This adds materially to the profit of keeping one cow.
[Illustration: Fig. 14.—THE GUERNSEY COW “LADY JANE” AND HEIFER.]