COUNTIES OF ROSS AND CEO^IAETY. 191 



prime condition for the Christmas markets, and the others are 

 sent o& as they become thoroughly fat, their stalls being filled 

 up as opportunity occurs with cattle for the following winter, 



Mr Jonathan Middleton, the enterprising tenant of the Clay 

 of Allan, generally feeds every year close on 300 cattle of the 

 best sorts to be had in the north. From one-fourth to one-third 

 of these are " soiled " in covered courts in summer, and sent 

 away at various times during the summer and autumn. Their 

 food in summer consists of a liberal supply of cut grass, hay, 

 tares, cotton and linseed cake, and a mixture of wdieat, oats, rye, 

 and Indian corn. The winter-fed cattle are begun on yellows, 

 and after three weeks or a month get abundance of swedes along 

 with cake and meal ; and as many as possible are sent away 

 about Christmas. 



Mr John Gordon, Balmuchy, is one of the most extensive and 

 most systematic feeders of cattle in Eoss-shire. He feeds in all 

 about 130 cattle every year, and his lot for the Smithfield market 

 have for two or three years been among the heaviest and finest 

 lots exposed in that immense mart. He buys in the greater 

 number in February and March — a few being bought in July and 

 August — and selects the best home-bred two-year-olds to be had, 

 taking an Irish beast only when a home-bred animal cannot be 

 had. When bought in the cattle are stalled and fed liberally on 

 swedes, cake, Indian corn, and hay. From thirty to forty of the 

 heavier animals are fed in the house all summer on cut grass, 

 cake, and Indian corn, and the others are sent to the grass about 

 the 3d or 4tli of May. From the 12th of August to the 1st of 

 September, according to the supply of grass, they are housed 

 again, and for three weeks they are fed on artificial food and 

 foggage. By about the middle of September yellow turnips are 

 ready for use, and after a short seasoning with these the regular 

 feeding system for the winter begins. About a.m. each animal 

 gets 4 lbs. of a mixture of cake and Indian corn or oats (1 part 

 of cake and 2 of corn), and immediately after a moderate quantity 

 of swedes is given. The byres are cleaned out during this time, 

 and from nine till one o'clock the cattle are allowed to rest. At 

 the latter hour other 4 lbs. of the mixture are given and followed 

 by turnips as in the morning. About six in the evening a little 

 hay is allowed, and at eight Hugh Munro, the experienced and 

 careful cattleman, takes a round among his valuable herd to see 

 that every thing is quiet, but takes care not to disturb the 

 peaceful slumbers of those already "retired to rest." Shortly 

 before the market the mixture of cake and corn is increased by 

 1 or 2 lbs., according to how the animals are feeding, and how 

 their constitutions are standing out. ^Ir Gordon's lot of forty 

 bullocks, sent to the Smithlield market last year, ranged in weight 

 from 8 to 12 cwt., the average beiug about 10 cwt. The 



