Stocking Land. 139 



Thus much I think I can assert as to the result of some perse- 

 vering- experiments in the new direction : — 



1. That it is quite possible to feed animals on purchased food 

 alone. 



2. That a mixture of the common grains and pulse, e.g. linseed, 

 pease, beans, wheat, &c., may be made for 10/. per ton, which 

 will fatten any animal. 



3. That the addition of seasoning (aniseed and fenugreek are 

 those that I have used for five years) at an additional cost of 1/. 

 per ton appears to pay well in the added relish and the improved 

 condition of the animals.* 



4. That doubling the quantity of linseed, though raising the 

 price, probably gives quite a proportionate increase to the value 

 of the mixture. 



5. That by the use of this meal the farmer may fearlessly 

 increase his stock without adding to his acres ; and yet, by that 

 increase of stock, must greatly increase the productiveness of his 

 farm. This consideration both suggested and replied to the 

 following exclamation of a neighbouring farmer : " Mr. Brereton, 

 if you'm doing all this on 30 acres, I'm thinking what's to become 

 of the landlords." 



6. That the use of sea-sand as bedding will enable the farmer 

 either to dispense with straw, or to use it more profitably as food ; 

 and that besides possessing, according to its quality, manurial 

 properties, the sand acts as a purifier of the land, and seems to 

 allow of a closer herding of stock than might be otherwise safe. 



7. That sheep may be folded on grass with great advantage, if 

 some shelter and dry treading is provided in adjacent yards 

 during excessively wet weather ; but the bullocks and horses do 

 best in yards and sheds, the grass grown after the fold being cut 

 by the scythe and carried to them. 



The success of such stock-farming as I have advocated must 

 evidently turn upon the acquirement of good judgment in the 

 selection of stock — a faculty which will henceforth assume 

 increased importance in the training of the young farmer. I 

 should like therefore to append to this statement a few words 

 on the subject of agricultural education, in which you know I am 

 much interested. Without for one moment wishing to decide 

 the question, adhuc sub judice, of the advantage of combining 

 special learning with general — of preparing a boy at once for the 

 duties of manhood and for those of his own calling — I cannot 

 help protesting against the summary manner in which this ques- 



* Two years ago, when I was at some pains to test the value of fenugreek on 

 two lots of six bullocks, the fenugreek appeared to do good ; but the weigli-bridge 

 did not justify this appearance, which probably rested on a keener appetite and 

 greater consumption of straw-chafiF. — P. H. F. 



