WALTER OF HENLEY 25 



houses in wet weather, for inflammation arises between the 

 skin and the hair and between the skin and the wool, which 

 will turn to the harm of the beasts. And if your cattle are 

 accustomed to have food, let it be given at midday by one 

 of the messers or the provost, and mixed with little 

 barley, because it is too bearded and hurts the horses' 

 mouths. And why shall you give it them before some 

 one and with chaff? I will tell you. Because it often 

 happens that the oxherds steal the provender, and horses 

 will eat more chaff for food and grow fat and drink 

 more. And do not let the fodder for oxen be given them 

 in a great quantity at a time, but little and often, and then 

 they will eat and waste little. And when there is a great 

 quantity before them they eat their fill and then lie down 

 and ruminate, and by the blowing of their breath they 

 begin to dislike the fodder and it is wasted. And let the 

 cattle be bathed, and when they are dry curry them, for that 

 will do them much good. And let the oxen be curried with 

 a wisp of straw every day, and thereby they will lick them- 

 selves more. And let your cows have enough food, that the 

 milk may not be lessened. And when the male calf is 

 calved let it have all the milk for a month ; at the end of 

 the month take away a teat, and from week to week a teat, 

 and then it will have sucked eight weeks, and put food be- 

 fore it, that it may learn to eat. And the female calf shall 

 have all the milk for three weeks, and take from it the teats 

 as with the male. And let them have water in dry weather 

 within the houses and without, for many die on the ground 

 of a disease of the lungs for lack of water. Further, if 

 there be any beast which begins to fall ill, lay out money to 

 better it, for it is said in the proverb, ' Blessed is the penny 

 that saves two.' 



