354 MODERN FARRIER. 



air without doors. It is a well known fact, that 

 calves who are clropt without, and remain in the 

 fields, are in little or no danger. Cows that are laid 

 on to graze for beef frequently turn out to be in 

 calf; and it is no uncommon thing to see them drop 

 their calves in the midst of frost and snow, and yet 

 these young creatures, if they can once get to their 

 feet, without being frozen to the ground, are hearty 

 and well. Calves, lambs, and foals, require exercise 

 and fresh air ; and nature directs them to take a 

 great deal. It is astonishing to see with what force 

 and vigour (particularly the calf), and how long, 

 they will run. But this free, unconstrain.ed, and 

 severe exercise without doors, seems to be the very 

 thing tiiat makes them thrive, and to be necessary 

 to their very existence. 



The great object is to prevent this disease ; and 

 the following method of treating the new-born 

 calves, practised by a correspondent of the Farmer's 

 JNIagazine, seems to be attended with complete 

 success. 



The time when this gentlemen's cows are bulled 

 is regularly noted down in a book; and when they 

 are near calving, they are watched frequently night 

 and day. As soon as the calf i^ dropped, it is re- 

 ceived into a large basket or scull made of willows, 

 with a handle at each end, and plenty of clean straw 

 in it. It is then carried by two persons to the stall 

 in the calf-house, where it is gently rubbed with 

 straw. The calf-house is next to the cow-byre ; and 

 is iitted up with stalls like a stable, about three feet 

 wide, and about five feet long. Every stall shuts in 

 by itself, with a door and hinges, for fear of the calf 

 lying back too far, to choke itself in its binding. 

 Ah soon as the mother has had a little rest after 

 calving, she is milked, and a little of the milk given 

 to the calf as early as possible. If the weather is 

 cold, and the mother long in giving milk, it is taken 

 to the fire, and warmed in a pan until it is blood- 



i 



