Norfolk Farming. 287 



otherwise refuse, and a certain bulk of food is necessary to pro- 

 mote digestion. The pulpers came into use very rapidly, but 

 they are not now so much used for fattening cattle ; they answer 

 well when cattle are hungry and hearty, but when they become 

 fat and fanciful it is better to give the food separately, as the 

 variety pleases them more than having the same mixed mess 

 always offered them. Such is the opinion of most graziers who 

 have been pulping roots for fat stock, but there are a few who 

 adhere to the new plan throughout, and there are also some old- 

 fashioned farmers who would on no account be guilty of mincing 

 roots, and think cattle can never flourish unless they can have 

 five or six bushels of swedes a day. 



Oilcake continues to be the predominant and favourite feed- 

 ing-stuff with the Norfolk grazier ; no matter how dear it may 

 be, he will have it. Of all artificial food it is certainly the most 

 handy in form, the easiest to keep, the most palatable to cattle, 

 and the safest when given in large quantities. But still it is 

 questionable if it be good economy to use it so extensively, 

 especially when beans, wheat, and other grain are low. A certain 

 portion may be desirable, but, instead of giving so much linseed- 

 cake, it would be better policy to use a mixture of artificial 

 food. A year or two ago, when keep was very scarce and treacle 

 very cheap, that article was extensively used as food for stock. 

 It was given principally to store stock. A pound or so per head 

 was diluted in a quantity of water, and then mixed with cut straw. 

 The chaff was thus sweetened by the treacle, and the cattle eat it 

 readily, and kept themselves in fair condition. Treacle was at 

 that time 15/. per ton ; the following year it rose to 24/., and, 

 as provender was more plentiful, the use of it for feeding purposes 

 speedily ceased. The price of it is again reduced to 15/., but 

 there is now hardly any demand for it even at that low figure. 

 The pod of the locust-bean was introduced at a moderate price, 

 which subsequently became so enhanced that its consumption 

 rapidly declined. The last new artificial food is cotton-cake. 

 This has been extensively given to store stock during the past 

 winter. That made with the husk is mostly sold ; its price has 

 varied from 5/. to 6/. per ton. The yellow cake, which is made 

 from the seed alone, is very dear, and has not much consump- 

 tion in N orfolk,* Stock eat the common cotton-cake readily and 

 thrive upon it, but it is not greatly in favour for grazing. Rape- 

 cake is still only partially used. Some farmers consume a large 

 quantity, giving it principally to sheep ; others, after one or two 



* The cake made from the kernels of the cotton-seed, after the removal of the 

 shell or husk, is known to the trade by the name of " decorticated cotton cake," 

 and may be bought in Liverpool at from 6/. to ll. per ton. At this price it is 

 a valuable addition to our list of feeding-stuffs. — H. S. T. 



