322 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



way, it ceases to occupy space in my shop, just 

 as would an imperfect wheel. The utmost kind- 

 ness is shown to all animals at Four Oaks. This 

 rule is the most imperative one on the place, 

 and the one in which no " extenuating circum- 

 stances " are taken into account. There are two 

 equal reasons for this : the first is a deep-rooted 

 aversion to cruelty in all forms ; and the second is, 

 it pays. But kindness to animals doesn't imply 

 the necessity of keeping useless ones or those 

 whose usefulness is below one's standard. If a 

 man will use the intelligence and attention to 

 detail in the management of stock that is neces- 

 sary to the successful running of a complicated 

 machine, he will find that his stock doesn't differ 

 greatly from his machine. The trouble with most 

 farmers is that they think the living machine can 

 be neglected with impunity, because it will not 

 immediately destroy itself or others, and because 

 it is capable of a certain amount of self-main- 

 tenance ; while the dead machine has no power 

 of self-support, and must receive careful and 

 punctual attention to prevent injury to itself 

 and to other property. If a dairyman will feed 

 his cows as a thresher feeds the cylinder of his 

 threshing-machine, he will find that the milk 

 will flow from the one about as steadily as the 

 grain falls from the other. 



Intensive factory farming means the use of the 

 best machines pushed to the limit of their capac- 

 ity through the period of their greatest useful- 



