AGRICULTURAL ZOOLOGY. 363 



"Now with respect to their food, so much does this vary, I shall simply give the plan I 

 recommeud, leaving my readers to follow it if they like, and improve upon it whenever 



they can. 



" I think in many instances stall-feeding is not commenced early enough in the autumn. 

 As soon as the weather becomes damp, and the days shorten much, say some time in October, 

 the grass in my neighborhood loses its feeding properties, and then the sooner your bullocks 

 are put up the better. For this purpose, I recommend having some of the large forward 

 descriptions of turnips provided; perhaps the 'red tankard,' although watery, and soon becom- 

 ing of little value, are at this very early season the best of any, from their early maturity ; 

 these are sown in April, at the rate of an acre to every eight bullocks, which will last them 

 three or four weeks, according to the crop, and leave a light fold to begin the sheep upon; at 

 the end of which time the forward Swedes are ready to begin. During this period I give 

 them little or no oil-cake, if they are only in moderate condition; but they have half a stone 

 of bran a day, mixed with an equal quantity of hay or straw chaff. Some persons may 

 fancy this food is of too loosening a nature, but I can assure them, from several years' 

 experience, that although bran is loosening itself, yet it has the effect of preventing the 

 watery white turnip from purging too much. Although the bullocks do not gain much in 

 weight during this time, yet I am satisfied they go on faster afterwards ; the reason of which 

 is, I suspect, that their bodies are more prepared for the artificial state they have to live in 

 for the next few months. Early in November the food must be changed to Swedes, cake, 

 etc. — the quantities of each must vary according to circumstances ; the following I consider 

 a good allowance where Swedes are not scarce ; if they are, more oil-cake must be given 

 instead of a part of them, or if very plentiful, they may be allowed even more : the morn- 

 ing's bait, one bushel of Swedes, well cleaned from dirt and cut small, given a few at a time ; 

 then, the refuse pieces being well cleaned out, a dry bait consisting of two pounds of oil-cake, 

 three pounds of bran, and a little hay chaff. While they are feeding, the manure and wet 

 litter must be well cleared away, and any which may be on the bullocks taken off, the floor 

 swept clean, and plenty of fresh litter put in ; then have every bullock well brushed with 

 what is called a dandy-brush, being a brush made of whalebone, for taking the rough dirt off 

 of horses. (Let no slovenly farmer fancy this to be a whim of mine; depend upon it, the 

 bullocks are kept in much better health and greater comfort for it.) They must now be left 

 quiet ; they will soon lie down and rest, and chew the cud till after dinner, when another 

 bushel of Swedes is given as before, in small quantities, followed by a similar dry bait of 

 cake, bran, and hay chaff, but with the addition of three pounds of bean meal ; this is left 

 with them at night. Be careful that the shutters are opened or closed according to the 

 weather, so as to maintain an even, warm temperature, but not hot enough to make them 

 perspire, if it can be avoided. Be also careful that the mangers are well cleaned out between 

 every bait. I have mine cleaned at the commencement of the season, and as often afterwards 

 as I think necessary, with scalding-water and the scrubbing-brush. 



"After a month or so the cake may be increased, and, if it is thought more convenient, 

 the Swedes may be changed for mangel-wurzel. Many persons object to using mangel 

 until the spring ; they certainly are more valuable than Swedes in the spring, and therefore 

 should always be used last. Never change from mangel-wurzel to Swedes, after you have 

 once began them, or the bullocks will not go on so fast ; but if, from having a bad crop of 

 Swedes, or from any other cause, you want to begin mangel early, you have only to lay 

 them exposed to the air for a week or two to wither, and they may be used as early in the 

 season as is required. 



"It will be observed that cleanliness, wannth, and quiet are the great points I insist upon, 

 of course coupled with good feeding; but very many tons of oil-cake are annually wasted, 

 because the comfort of the animals is not more attended to. 



"Before I conclude, I wish to give these recommendations respecting selling the bullocks 

 when fat : Do not determine upon parting with them exactly at a given time ; but if a butcher 

 wants to buy a part of them a few weeks before you think they are ready, calculate how 

 they are paying for what they have eaten ; and, if you feel satisfied on that head, do not run 

 the hazard of getting a bad sale by refusing a good offer, or perchance the opportunity may 



