564 PHYSIOLOGY AT THE FARM. 



ing ; the appearance of forwardness in the animals being the 

 best rule to go by. However, as a general mode, supposing a 

 calf to be dropped in March, I would suggest that pure 

 " mother's milk " should be given for a fortnight, then by 

 degrees an admixture of the oilcake gruel (one quart of cake, 

 ground fine, to 4 quarts of boiling water) introduced, and a 

 sufficient drink allowed at each meal, so as to remove all hollow- 

 ness from the flank. In a few weeks, 6 gallons will be taken 

 by the calf ; and when the weather is favourable, it should be 

 allowed to run in some well-sheltered place where the pasture 

 is sweet. In three months, calves have an appetite for grass, 

 and it is then that the process of weaning should begin." * 



A bull-calf intended to be reared for service deserves parti- 

 cular attention. One calved early in the season should be 

 preferred. He should get as much new milk as he can take, 

 and should not be weaned till the young grass is fully ready 

 to support him. The object is not to fatten, but to give vigour 

 to the several parts of the body in order to the strengthening 

 of the general constitution. Sufficient exercise at an early 

 period should be allowed. 



When male calves are not designed to be kept entire, castra- 

 tion should be performed about a month after birth. 



On Feeding of Sheep. On the feeding of sheep there are 

 many treatises, so that the subject in its general character is 

 nearly exhausted. It may be useful, however, to consider 

 some of the most common kinds of food employed in feeding 

 sheep in respect to the proportion contained in each of flesh- 

 formers, of heat and fat givers, and mineral matters. 



The following experiment by Dr Voelcker indicates dis- 

 tinctly a standard fattening sheep diet. Four sheep were fed 

 for seven weeks (forty-eight days) namely, from 22d March 



* 'English Journal of Agriculture,' vol. xxii. p. 152. 



