152 NOTES ON FIELDS AND CATTLE. 



most valuable, as containing the richest element of 

 cream. 



Hence some farmers allow a calf to suck half way 

 through ; so reckoning on the double profit of fatted 

 calf and butter as well. When a cow calves, let the 

 calf suck for three days — drain the " beastings," it is 

 technically said. This has a medicinal effect upon 

 him, while it prevents inflammation in the cow ; nor 

 under any circumstances remove him until all appear- 

 ance of a core has disappeared from the milk. 



It seldom pays to fatten a calf over ten to twelve 

 weeks. In Essex one calf replaces another — being 

 bought for the purpose — until sometimes five or 

 seven are fattened by the same cow in succession for 

 the London markets, occasionally two, or even three, 

 being fed at once. A large number of calves for this 

 purpose is supplied to Buckingham and the neigh- 

 bouring markets from the south-western district of 

 Northamptonshire, being the offspring mainly of the 

 shorthorn Yorkshire cow, which the dairyman of 

 that district prefers. If your herd be a valuable 

 one, you cannot do better than let the calf run with 

 her mother in good grass. It is the cheapest way of 

 bringing up a likely youngster. " The more calves 

 are allowed to suck, the stronger and larger cattle 

 they become." (Buffon.) As cows are, however, 

 apt not to come in season whilst nursing, you should 

 take it away for a while, or what is better, have an 

 Alderney wet-nurse for her, whose superior flow of 

 milk will give extra size. 



In this transfer of affection, if the foster-mother 

 does not take kindly to her intended nursling, rub 



