Indian domestic economy and receipt book; comprising numerous directions for plain wholesome cookery, both oriental and English ... / By the author of 'Manual of gardening for Western India' [i.e. R. Riddell].

  • Riddell, R
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Indian domestic economy and receipt book; comprising numerous directions for plain wholesome cookery, both oriental and English ... / By the author of 'Manual of gardening for Western India' [i.e. R. Riddell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/502 (page 9)
    CHAPTER IL OUTDOOR ECONOMY. THE FARM AND POULTRY YARD. THE best Cows in Western India are the Guzeratti, and in Cows. the South, the Mysore and Nellore, and in the Upper parts, the Nagore; the general time of calving being at the com- mencement of, and during, the monscon. The Guzerat cows, when in full milk, after calving, give from five to six seers daily, for the first three or four months, if fed with gram and green grass* ;—the Nellore cow about half the quantity, and the common country cow seldom more than two or three seers, and generally not more than one, from which the calf must have its share. Few country cows will give any milk if the calf is taken from them. It depends upon the constitution of the cow how nearly she may be milked to the time of her calving,—also on the quantity and cost of feeding. When pasturage is abundant, the best way is to keep such a stock of cows as will enable you to have a succession in milk. The ex- pense of tending them out grazing is the same for a dozen as a couple, a man being required to milk, feed and pen up the calves morning and evening.t The quantity of gram to be given to each cow daily must necessarily depend upon her milk. For a common country cow half a seer soaked at each milking is sufficient; double the quantity will be required for a Nellore, or Guzerat cow. In selecting a cow for purchase the Natives give preference to those with fine thin skin, good looking udder (not depending upon the size) and long thin tails. Colour is a matter of no consequence; of course if the cow does not promise from her appearance, when in full calf, to give a fair share of milk, no one would think of becoming a purchaser. The price of a good Guzeratti cow is from 30 to 70 rupees or more; the Nellore probably not quite so much, and a country cow from five to fifteen rupees. It is necessary that * The natives seldom if ever give gram tv their cattle; and, previous to calving, Oord is the principal grain given;—also Tour, Chenna and others that are cheap. The Oord is first boiled and then mixed with oil,—say one-eighth of aseer of oil to one seer of Oord, and this is given to a Cow, and twice the quantity to a Buffaloe. + At all the towns and villages there are herdsmen who collect and take out the cattle to feed of a morning, and bring them back in the evening, charging so much a head,— from two te eight annas,—a month, ©