50 Necf/Jity of having Green Food upon a FarWy is'c. Jan. 



TO THE CONDUCTORS OF THE FARMEr's MAGAZIKET. 

 GENTLEMEN, 



In this country, we are confcniiUy behind our fautheru 

 neighbours in the rearing of live (lock ; and I am apprehen- 

 five our pra6lice will not be improved, rill greater attention 

 is bellowed upon the raifing of green food, for fupporting 

 them during the Winter months. As matters are now car- 

 ried on, the greateil part of our cattle and flieep are (larved 

 during one half of the year; and, at that time, they necef- 

 farily lofe the flefh wliich they had previoufly gathered, and, 

 of courfe, at next grafs feafon, are fo weak and emaciated, 

 that a confiderable time elapfes before they are reflored to 

 their former condition. 



Under thefe circumftances, it will not excite furprife, that 

 our breeding farms (at leaft where cattle are the chief ilock) 

 are only capable of paying a very trifling rent, which would 

 not be the cafe, were fuitablc induftry ufed to procure Winter 

 food. In the low parts of Scotland, it is well known, that, in 

 nine cafes cut of ten, young cattle receive little other fuften- 

 ?.nce but what they get in the draw yard, or from the pick- 

 ings of barren moors; while in the Highlands, where the 

 greatefl quantity is bred, they hardly receive as much ftraw, or 

 coarfe boggy hay, as will preferve them alive. Hence, they 

 are flinted in their growth, and prevented from arriving at 

 any fize, while the time for fattening them upon better paf- 

 tures is confequently prolonged. Great lofles are alfo fuf- 

 talned by this procraftinatlon, which, added to the intereft of 

 capital, and the charge of fo many years maintenance, ren- 

 ders the profit, when a fale is made, very inconfiderable. 



It appears to me that thefe clrcumllances might be obviated, 

 "were due attention paid to what I have mentioned. It is cer- 

 tain that all the cattle in Scotland might be fattened for the 

 butcher, after pafTing three years of age, and that their weight 

 might be increafed at leaft one third, were Winter food pro- 

 vided for them. Where this is unattainable, it would be 

 found good policy to introduce fheep in their place. 1 know 

 few fituations wliere turnips may not be raifed ; and it is 

 truly furprifing v/hat effecls are produced from a very trifling 

 quantity given to young (lock. Their blood is thereby kept 

 in a proper ftate, and the conftitution of the animal is in a 

 manner predifpofed to receive more benefit from the dry food 

 given alcngll with them. In fhort, I hardly know a more 

 beneficial way of ufing turnips,^ than applying them in this 

 way ; and, in a breeding farm, every object ought to yield 

 to their culture, fo far as it is praclicable. 



Almoft 



