AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 201 



of pulped Swedes, one bushel of straw-chaff, with two lbs of oil cake, each, 

 daily. I mix the roots and chaff but a short time before giving them to 

 the animals. Some allow the mixture to rest, but it is apt to turn acid, 

 and that is unfavorable to their health. There in no advantage in steam- 

 ing the food. Straw alone often causes obstructions in the second stomach, 

 and is one of the most dangerous maladies we have to contend with, in 

 cows. 



I have no faith in the roiigJmig calves to make them hardy — it weakens 

 instead of strengthening their constitutions, and in two or three generations 

 that roughing will ruin the best breed of catle in the country. There is 

 no real reason for forcing show animals — good judges know all that — 

 there is no necessity for such extreme fat, as seen at nearly all our shows. 



Lord Ducie's herd was brought to the hammer only in ordinary condi- 

 tion. Some of his heifer calves were really too poor, yet this did not 

 detract from their value in the eyes of breeders. Lord Ducie gave over a 

 thousand guineas for six animals, one of them a calf. He was right, for 

 at his sale, a bull for which he gave 200 guineas, sold for 700 guineas, and 

 others in proportion. 



In selecting a bull, so much depends on the character of the female he 

 is required for, that it is almost impossible to lay down a rule. It is better 

 that he should be too coarse rather than too tine. When a herd of cattle 

 are approaching perfection the greatest care and judgment are required ; for 

 having reached this point, there is always a disposition to degenerate. 

 What is called bretding in and in will, no doubt, ensure greater certainty 

 as to the produce, but beyond one or two generations, it is objectionable. 

 Some of our best men, among them the late Sir John Lebright, found it 

 injurious. The term breeding in and in. is very indeiinite. Some apply- 

 ing it to all near relations, whereas, strictly speaking, it should only be 

 applied to animals of precisely the same blood, such as own brother and 

 sister. Now the daughter is only half the blood of the father, and th 

 son only half that of the mother, and breeding from such relationship as 

 this last, if watched with care, may be carried to a moderate extent with- 

 out injury, and perhaps with some advantage. But as good mules can now 

 easily be had, no man need breed in and in. 



Cleanliness is important. A brush made of whalebone, to scrub occa- 

 sionally, particularly places not easily reached bj the tongue of the animal. 



ERGOT 



Is found not only on grain but on many grasses. Rye grass is particularly 

 subject to it when it has run to seed. Almost all the grasses are subject 

 to it. It produces abortion in females. Grazed land is more subject to it. 

 Mr. Pike, of New Jersey, (eighty-four years old,) was asked what he 

 thought of the turnip for feed. Said that he thought rutabagas profitable. 

 I feed to my stock and they prosper. I get as much feed from five acres as 

 I do of hay off of fifteen. I have a patent machine for chopping roots for 

 stock but I find a t2ib better. Carrots are excellent feed ; better, however 



