Cultivation of Graft Land. Suckling of Calves* Cows proper for. 4.97 



afford milk in quite fo large a proportion, but of fuperior quality. Where the 

 pafturage, however, is good, and the command of other forts of food eafy at a! I 

 feafons of the year, the larger breeds may be employed in this way with great 

 profit. It has been advifed by fome, as the beft method of obtaining a fuitable 

 breed of cows for the fuckling bufinefs, to wean every year a proper number of 

 calves from the beft cows, which from their being raifed where they are to be 

 afterwards kept, and at a cheap rate, mufl be more advantageous than purchaling 

 them from diftant diftrids.* 



But whatever the breed of cows may be that are kept for this ufe, they mould 

 be conftantly well fed either by grazing in the paftures or by being foddered in 

 the flails. It is moftly the practice to feed them in the autumn, the winter, and 

 fpring months, while tied up, with brewer s grains, turnips, cabbages, carrots, 

 and various forts of green food that are made ufe of for foiling cattle ; to which 

 a fuitable proportion of well made green rowen or meadow hay is added ; and a 

 full fupply of pure water twice a day at leaft. . 



It is effential in this practice, that the fuckling-houfe be fpacious and airy, 

 having a range of ties or faftenings on one fide for the purpofe of confining the 

 cows, and on the other a fet of cribs or pens for containing the calves. Thefe 

 Ihould be fo contrived, as, while they keep the calves as dry and clean as poffible, 

 they exclude them from the influence of the light. Some advife, in the firft view, 

 raifed moveable floors formed of narrow laths or fpars, nailed upon joifts, at the 

 diftance of about an inch from each other, as by this means the nioifture and 

 naftinefs are not only immediately drained off, but a considerable degree of venti 

 lation effected. t This method is probably, however, more neceffary for calves in 

 the ftate of rearing than thofe that are fattening for the butcher. In thefe cafes it 

 is moftly the cuftom to have only common floors. The pens or divifions mould 

 never be too large ; as in this bufinefs the more quiet, and the lefs the calves move 

 about, the better they fatten. And it is of the utmoft confequence to have them 

 kept perfectly clean, and free from every fort of difagreeable fmell, as without 

 attention in this refpect the bufinefs never goes on well. This is beft effected by 

 frequent f weeping and cleaning them out, and having recourfe to frem clean wheat 

 ftraw for littering them with every day. It is alfo a good practice to have collars 

 made of leather to pafs round the necks of the calves and buckle, as by this means 



Synopfisof Husbandry. i Sc&ion on Farm Buildings. 



VOL. ii. 3 S 



