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ONCE A WEEK.

[JULY 16, 1859.

OUR FARM OF TWO ACRES. DAIRY AND EAcos. “ I SHOULD have said you would be more

if any well-established society for the purpose

humane,” observed a London friend to me, “ than to shut up your cows. I could not have believed

exists within reach. At this season last year, when I lost a cow for the first time, I should have been very glad of such a resource. The few shillings per

you would be so cruel.” A few minutes’ conversation made a wonderful difference in this benevolent lady’s impressions. She was a thorough Londoner, and knew nothing of cow tastes and habits. With the ordinary human tendency to fetishism she regarded cow life from her own point of view, and pitied my Meggie and Ailsie for not seeing the lovely land scape as they lay ruminating. The argument may be shortly given. Granting that the so-called “ natural

condition ” of animals is the happiest, which may not be true in the quadruped any more than the human case, it is impossible at this time of day to put our domestic cattle under the conditions of the primitive life of their race. When they roamed our island wild they could shelter themselves from

the noonday heat in the forest, and escape the flies by getting into the water ; whereas, when once cows are domesticated, there is an end of forest shade, and of recourse to lakes and rivers ; and

year for each cow are worth paying, if never wanted back again : for the peace of mind is a main feature in the bargain, as in the case of life and fire insurance. One of the finest and healthiest young cows I ever saw, which had calved prosper ously a year before, calved last June in the midst of the thundery weather which then prevailed. The storm burst just after; my poor cow sank down, and never got up again. This was a case of sheer accident : no management could have prevented it ; and the appropriate consolation would have been receiving her value from an Insurance Society if I had had the opportunity. Country residents who know how often the familiar petition comes ro11uid on behalf of the cottager or small farmer who has lost a cow or two, can bear witness to the policy of establishing such a society in every rural neighbourhood, and taking care of its being founded on a safe basis.

the question is, whether something better is not The subscriptions now given on petition would be given. Taking the winter into the question, there better bestowed on such a foundation. Good would can be no doubt about the matter. Lean cows be done, and ease of mind afforded, all round ; and were slaughtered in autumn, and salted down for after ten years or so, the collective records would winter food, in old times, because there were no yield some very valuable knowledge as to the life means of feeding them during the interval between and health of farm-stock. the late and early grass; and, as for those which The combined experience of a neighbourhood or were spared the slaughter, we know what their district must surely lead to an improved medical wildness from hunger was by the end of winter. treatment of animals. The greatest drawback on The cows on a small farm (or on a large one small farming is the helplessness of the proprietor either) cannot have open woods and waters to when a cow or pig is ill. It requires to be on the resort to; and, if sent out to feed, have a half spot to believe the nonsense that is talked on such and-half sort of life, the superiority of which to occasions in retired villages, and what passions stall-feeding may be questionable. They have are called into play. A few months after I began, neither the natural nor the artificial protection I was told that my cow was ill. The local doctor from heat and flies, and their condition is less was sent for, and he gave his verdict and insti eqnable than that of the stall-fed cow. In high sum tuted the treatment. But I could make nothing mer they may be very fat and sleek ,—too fat to be of the matter at all—neither what ailed the cow, perfect milkers; but in earlyspring they are meagre, nor whether it was serious, nor even whether she ragged, and half dry, when the stall-fed animals are might die. By the bustle and solemnity, and my nearly as sleek and prosperous as at any other season. man being seen to brush away tears when my Every observer remarks on the good plight of my back was turned, I augured the worst; but I do cows when those of the neighbouring farmers are not at this moment know how far she was in turned out upon the fells in spring: and, during danger. The report was : “ ’Tis the worm in the the summer, if Meggie and Ailsie happen to be out tail, that go all along her back and up into her towards noon, they turn into their stable of their head, so that her teeth are loose, and she can’t own accord to escape the flies and enjoy the cool- properly ea .” She was bled in the tail, dosed ness. The test is the health of the animals ; and, by with physio, fed with meal, and rubbed, and in a all I have been able to learn, stall-fed cows, properly day or two she was quite well. Other alarms of managed, live longer, give more milk in the long

run, have fewer illnesses, and are better tempered than those which are treated in the ordinary method of our old-fashioned farming. When Cow Life Insurance societies become as numerous as they ought to be, their tables will soon show whether stall-feeding is favourable to life and

the same kind have occurred since ; and the sense of blank ignorance in one’s self, and of the quackery of those who pretend to know more,

while the suffering animal is sinking before one’s eyes, is decidedly the most disagreeable experience of rural life in my case. And then, if one asks a question, or demurs to bleeding (from which a cow

health, or the contrary. Meantime, the world is rarely recovers completely), or proposes any simple grievously in want of agricultural statisties in method, or fails to send for the local oracle, or, that department, as in every other. worst of all, sends for a real veterinary surgeon I may remark here, that the ladies who tell us of too, there is an astonishing outburst of passions. their four-acre farm, and all other farmers, large Doctor and farm-man quarrel : “ The lady may