In “Comfort’s” yard was a corner formed by the barn on one side, the
hennery on another, and the board fence on a third side. Joseph put
a roof over this corner, and about a foot deep of oatshucks on the
ground, and fastened a box to the side of the barn for her to eat out
of; and here were her summer quarters. Every morning before milking the
droppings were cleaned up and piled in one corner of the yard. As soon
as the clover began to blossom, an armful was cut each evening and fed
to “Comfort” after her ration of dry feed, and the morning feed was
discontinued. After the corn was large enough, that took the place of
clover until frost threatened; then it was cut up and bound in small
bundles, which were set up in large stooks, to cure for winter use.
No difference was observed in the first crop of clover in favor of the
phosphate, but the second cutting was largely benefited by its use. Over
one-half of the first and second cuttings were cured and stored in the
barn, with all of the grass around the yard, which, with fully two-thirds
of the stalks, would be nearly, if not quite enough coarse feed to last
“Comfort” through the winter. The mangels yielded about twenty-five
bushels, not a very large yield, but quite satisfactory, considering the
soil had not really been farmed but one year. The roots were pitted near
the barn for spring use. Some of the corn stalks were set so as to form
a slanting roof over them; three or four inches of dirt thrown over
this; afterwards enough to keep them from freezing.
About the first of November, “Comfort” was established in winter quarters
in the stall, at night and during stormy days, and in the yard on
pleasant days. She continued in milk until the middle of February, and
was in fresh milk March eighteenth, was hearty and contented—a comfort
to look at as well as to own. Joseph Earnest was well pleased with his
year’s experiment.