504 On the Managenient of Breeding Cattle. 



either allowed to stand, or were worked up in the new erections, 

 was — 



£. 



" For the shed, cistern, and drauglit-horse stable .. 480 as per contract. 



For chaff-house, corn-room, partition of pens,) r/N 

 thrashing-floor, chaff-house, and cutting-floor j 



i For extra lead lining for large cistern 50 



For 6-horse steam-engine, complete, and 4-horsei o^a f f 



thrashing-machine and corn chaff-cutter .. / -^ as per contract. 



For cost of water-troughs 20 



For engine chimney and brickwork for boiler andi oaa j. i. 



coal-house .. } 200 as per centract. 



For sundries, including pair of stones for grind-l ^^ 



ing corn j 



Total £1070" 



The shed referred to in the foregoing account is 148 feet 

 long by 83 feet wide, and is divided into two spans of roofing 

 25^ feet high. On one side of it, and adjoining a barn and 

 other erections, the steam-engine, of 6 horse-power, is fitted 

 up, to thrash, cut, grind, steam roots, and perform other useful 

 duties : the other parts of the shed are devoted to the cattle in 

 pens, holding from six to ten each. In the roof at the south 

 end, in order to equalise the temperature, ventilators r.nd lights 

 are placed, so constructed that they can be partially closed or 

 opened, or in severe weather altogether shut, as may be required : 

 this is done by means of Russian matting, arranged so as to be 

 easily raised or let down. The cattle are arranged in the 4 

 pens in the manner considered best to promote cleanliness and 

 comfort ; in one are put weaned calves or yearlings ; in another 

 calves and their dams ; in the third the in-calvers ; and in the 

 remaining pen the feeding bullocks and heifers, and the small 

 or loose boxes are devoted to the use of such of the cattle as 

 may require them. It will thus be seen that the habits of all 

 are consulted, and, as far as possible, their happiness pro- 

 moted; and as they are all (except the old ones) members of one 

 family, and all born on the farm, the stronger beast is seldom 

 found to exact, as is so commonly the case, from his weaker 

 neighbours more than his proper portion of the food. Any ten- 

 dency of this kind, if it is ever shown, is prevented either by 

 removal or chaining to a side post, means at once simple and 

 effectual, but seldom necessary. 



The breeding stock, all under cover, consists at the present 

 time of 25 cows and heifers, 35 calves of various ages, 1 bull, 

 with another for change if required, and 14 feeding beasts for 

 market next autumn, the practice l)eing to have always a dralt 

 of two-year-olds, weighing from 50 to 70 imperial stones, to go 



off 



