Unnatural as it may seem, it does not appear that constant confinement has any bad effect upon the health of the cow, or occasions any diminution of her milk. We have already mentioned (§ 354. in p. 259.) that in some of the large London dairies cows have been kept for two years in the same stall without being once untied; and in some country places the same plan is adopted, partly from motives of economy, and partly to prevent any injury being done to the shrubberies. That this plan is most economical, is evident from the fact, that three acres of grass land is generally allowed to each cow, by persons calculating how much stock a farm will maintain; while one acre is sufficient for a stall-fed cow, if only one-half be kept in pasture, and the other sown with beans and carrots. The cow should be fed four times a day, in summer alternately with grass and lucern, and in winter alternately with hay and carrots. The grass should be given fresh; but the lucern should be allowed to remain twelve hours after it it cut before it is given to the cow, as, if given fresh, the milk will not only have an unpleasant flavour, but the cow is liable to become hoven, or blown. Where economy is not a paramount object, it is best ,to feed the cow entirely on grass during the summer.

The carrots for winter consumption should be cut like turnips; and the hay should be chopped by a straw-cutting machine, if practicable.

404. When a cow is milked, care should be taken to drain every drop of milk from her udder, as if some is left every day, the cow will gradually become dry. Cows are generally milked at intervals of twelve hours; that is, about five in the morning, and about five in the afternoon; but, as they always produce least milk during the twelve hours of night, in some places they are milked three times a day; that is, at sun-rise, at three in the afternoon, and at seven in the evening.

Subsect. VI. Renovation Of Large Country Villas. 405. Renovating The Gardens Of Large Country Villas

Nothing can be added on this head to what has been already said respecting the gardens of small country villas; except what relates to the plant-houses, which will form a separate division of this work.