180 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



CV. SOILING, OR HOUSE FEEDING, 



THE practice of soiling stock prevails to some, but not, within 

 my observation, to a great, extent in England. The soiling of 

 stock implies the keeping of them in stables or yards all the 

 season, and bringing to them green feed, when it is to be ob 

 tained, cut fresh from the fields. I have not been able to get 

 that exact information on the subject, which I should have de 

 sired ; and perhaps it would be vain to look for it. 



Work horses are almost universally soiled in England upon 

 clover, rye grass, rye, vetches or tares, or rye and vetches sown 

 together. These are sown expressly for this purpose. The 

 horses are frequently kept upon them without any additional 

 feed ; but when on the road, or when the farm work is severe, 

 they require grain of some sort in addition. 



Sheep, as I have before said, which are in a course of prepa 

 ration for the market, and sometimes store sheep, especially those 

 which have lambs by their side, that are designed for market, 

 are folded, and the tares cut green and conveyed to them, which 

 may be considered as soiling. A large stock on Lord Hather- 

 ton s admirably managed farm at Teddesley Park, in Stafford 

 shire, are soiled ; and their good condition evinced the excellent 

 care which was taken of them. In many cases, in small hold 

 ings, I have found the system pursued with great success. On 

 Lord Gosford s estates in Ireland, under the judicious and excel 

 lent care of Mr. Blacker, who has the superintendence, as he in 

 formed me, of several hundreds of tenants, (such are the subdivis 

 ions of estates in that country, ) I found that among many of these 

 small tenants he had introduced the practice of soiling their 

 cows. Several, whom I visited, were keeping in good health, 

 and with great advantage, three or four cows, where formerly 

 they kept but one, and that one in a half-starved condition. It 

 is said that in Ireland a cow is sometimes recommended for her 

 capacity of getting her own living by leaping hedge and ditch, 

 and foraging any where at her pleasure. Under a system of 

 soiling, that branch of her education might well be dispensed 

 with, much to the advantage of the peace of the neighborhood. 



That a great saving of food is effected by soiling there can 



