eeding exclusively in
the barn--there are yet many conflicting opinions. As to its economy of
land and feed there can be no question, it being generally admitted that
a given number of animals may be abundantly fed on a less space; nor is
there much question as to the increased quantity of milk yielded in
stall feeding. Its economy, in this country, turns rather upon the cost
of labor and time; and the question raised by the dairyman is, whether
it will pay--whether its advantages are sufficient to balance the extra
expense of cutting and feeding, over and above cropping on the pasture.
The importance of this subject has been strongly impressed upon the
attention of farmers in many sections of the country, by a growing
conviction that something must be done to improve the pastures, or that
they must be abandoned altogether.

Thousands of acres of neglected pasture-land in the older States are so
poor and worn out that from four to eight acres furnish but a miserable
subsistence for a good-sized cow. No animal can flourish under such
circumstances. The labor and exertion of feeding are too great, to say
nothing of the vastly inferior quality of the grasses in such pastures,
compared with those on more recently seeded lands. True economy would
dictate that such pastures should either be allowed to run to wood, or
be devoted to sheep-walks, or ploughed and improved. Cows, to be able to
yield well, must have plenty of food of a sweet and nutritious quality;
and, unless they find it, they wander over a large space, if at liberty,
and thus deprive themselves of rest.

If a farmer or dairyman unfortunately owns such pastures, there can be
no question that, as a matter of real economy, he had better resort to
the soiling system for his milch cows; by which means he will largely
increase his annual supply of good manure, and thus have the means of
improving, and bringing his land to a higher state of cultivation. A
very successful instance of this management occurs in the report of the
visiting committee of an agricultural society in Massachusetts, in which
they say: "We have now in mind a farmer in this county who keeps seven
or eight cows in the stable through the summer, and feeds them on green
fodder, chiefly Indian corn. We asked him his reasons for it. His answer
was: 1. That he gets more milk than he can by any other method. 2. That
he gets more manure, especially liquid manure. 3. That he saves it all,
by keeping a supp