158 BOX-FEEDING LONG PARTIALLY PRACTISED. 



In forwarding the outline of my Bullock -boxes, I have 

 no intention of claiming the merit of invention, or of ori- 

 ginality in any of the experiments that I have made. Were 

 I to do so, I should put myself upon a level with those pre- 

 tenders who, having obtained patents for their discoveries, 

 deprive the real inventors both of the credit and the profit of 

 their ingenuity. 



The system of feeding cattle in boxes has been long partially 

 practised in various parts of the kingdom, and the growth of 

 flax, from time immemorial. The fattening of cattle with 

 linseed was in full operation by the Hindoos 1500 years ago, 

 and in modern times in England, particularly in Norfolk, 

 repeated attempts were made by the most expert graziers to 

 establish the use of linseed, without success. 



Summer-feeding also in stalls or houses has been long much 

 practised on the Continent and in Ireland. Turn to the pages 

 of the Report of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 

 to those of the ' Farmer's Magazine/ and to a pamphlet by 

 Mr. Hillyard, of Thorplands, Northumberland, and abundant 

 information on these subjects will be obtained. 



In Mr. Blaker's valuable essay on the improvement to be 

 made in the cultivation of small farms in Ireland by house - 

 feeding cattle, on green crops, I discovered the great benefits 

 to be derived from that system, 



On Mr. Baker's premises, at Acle, I first saw bullocks and 

 sheep fattened in boxes ; and, to the experiments of the 

 patriotic Sir Edward Stracey in boiling grain, I added the 

 linseed infusion, and thus produced the incomparable cattle- 

 compound. I merely claim for myself the merit of embodying 

 the useful ideas and plans of others, in such a form as to render 

 them a permanent support to every grade of tenant farmer an 

 effectual protection to the interests of the landlord, and a 

 remedy for the present distress arising from the want of em- 

 ployment. 



Allow me to thank you for permitting my letters to appear 

 verbatim. I trust they will not involve you in any heavy 

 responsibility, since my name will be attached to each ; nor will 

 they occasion any very lengthened controversy, seeing that the 

 topics advanced are entirely of a practical nature, and easily 



