AS FOOD FOR CATTLE AND SHEEP. 29;> 



of turnips, with no other accompaniment than long straw, and 

 of giving slieep nothing but watery bulbs during the winter 

 months, is unnatural, extravagant, and even wasteful. Our 

 contention is, that the proper quantity of turnips to give an 

 animal in ordinary circumstances is as nearly as can be calcu- 

 lated that amount which will supply its desire and its need for 

 water, and that positive loss is incurred when any considerable 

 quantity, more than serves this purpose, is allowed. We do not 

 mean to say that exceptional circumstances may not arise, 

 justifying a departure from this general rule. On the contrary, 

 as we shall try to show towards the close, in some seasons, 

 when, for example, the turnip crop is a very heavy one, and 

 when, owing to the high price of stock or other causes, it might 

 be hazardous to purchase additional animals to consume the 

 surplus roots, it may be prudent, and even profitable, to give the 

 stock on the farm a decidedly larger allowance of roots than, 

 should be given in ordinary circumstances. In such matters it 

 would not be wise to carry out such a rule rigidly, as obviously 

 discretion and judgment are necessary in modifying it accord- 

 ing to circumstances. (2.) A further part of our object will be 

 to discuss the best form in which to give the restricted quantity 

 of turnips to cattle and sheep, and also the best substitutes to 

 use in various circumstances, with the view of supplementing, 

 by purchased food as well as by home-grown grain, etc., the 

 fodder and roots on the farm. 



To some extent our arouments will be founded on 2:eneral 

 considerations, based on the composition of tui'ni])s, and on their 

 suitability, or rather non-suitability, for being the sole or even 

 main food of stock. But we shall als(j rely on the experience 

 and testimony of cattle und sheep feeders in all parts of the 

 United Kingdom, hi gathering materials fur this ])aper, we 

 have been in communication with many eminent agri(julturists 

 in the leading stock-feeding districts of Great Britain, almost 

 literally from John o' Groat's to Land's End. We have met, on 

 all hands, a cordial readiness to communicate any information 

 asked, and more especially the results of ])ersonal experience iu 

 the feeding of both cattle and sheep, with turnips as the basis 

 of the food given. This readiness has arisen alike from the 

 expressed a})preciation on the part of our corresi)ondents, of the im- 

 mense; })ractical im])ortance of the subject, esj)ecially in the face 

 of the serious American competition with which the liritish 

 stock-feeder has to contend, and also a willingness to communi- 

 cate any infornuition intended for the use of the Highland and 

 Agricultunil Society of Scotland. Many of our informants 

 express their regret, that the actual results of the dilVerent modes 

 of feeding tried by them had often not been put to a sutliciently 

 exact test, owing to nn absence of the means of ai)[>lying such a 



