374 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XXXIII. 



humid state, will also form a valuable mixen, which can be applied to 

 the land at such seasons as the farmer may deem most judicious. 

 3rdly. In the prevention of all injury to fences, and to the poaching of 

 grass-land in wet weather; as well as the avoidance of all annoyance 

 by flies during summer : and, to working cattle more particularly, the 

 great advantage of quietude, by which they can fill their bellies and lie 

 down to sleep more expeditiously tiian when abroad. 

 This reasoning aj)pears to be conclusive ; but it must be admitted that 

 few if any of the best practical farmers in England have adopted the prac- 

 tice of soiling. Some even who did adopt it at the time Mr, Curwen 

 advocated it so strenuously, and when many of the Agricultural Societies 

 endeavoured to introduce it, have given it up. For instance, the late Mr, 

 Champion — than whom a better farmer never existed — having a light land 

 farm perfectly well adapted for soiling, thought it his interest to occupy 

 grazing land ten or twelve miles from his farm, for the purpose of keeping 

 his stock during the summer ; and yet, as Mr, Champion was in the habit 

 of selling bulls and heifers at large ])rices, it was very much to his advan- 

 tage to have them near his home, and he was a man who was not likely to 

 be deterred from adopting;- an advantageous practice because it was a new 

 one. We state these objections thus candidly, because the Society does 

 not choose to afford its authority to a practice which has been disapproved, 

 and wishes to leave its expediency to further investigation ; but so far as 

 the compiler of this work has had an opportunity of personally observing 

 its effects, he has found it to be highly advantageous. 



In conducting the soiling system, it is desirable to give the food often 

 and in small quantities, as otherwise the cattle Vv'ill blow upon and reject it ; 

 added to which, if it be given in such abundance as to clog them, it will not 

 be afterwards relished, and the beasts will consequently suffer in condition. 

 Attention should therefore be paid to have the remains of the food imme- 

 diately removed when the stock have done with it; or, indeed, rather before 

 they are quite satiated. Green food, it should also be observed, should be 

 sparingly given at first; as otherwise the greediness of the cattle, when put 

 to it after dry food, not unfrequently occasions the accident known as 

 " hoving." Thus tares, lucerne, clover, and all those grasses relishing to 

 cattle of every description, and equally favourable to health, may prove 

 noxious, if taken in too great a quantity. The air which they engender 

 swells one of their stomachs ; the tension obstructs rumination, and its 

 effects cause death if speedy assistance be not given to facilitate the 

 evacuation of the condensed air, and the passage of the blood in the large 

 vessels*. Straw should also be given as fodder in order to correct any 

 disposition to looseness in the bowels ; and we have heard the tops of the 

 common heather recommended as a condiment which prevents all appearance 

 of scouring. 



The different varieties should also be occasionally changed ; for animals 

 like the various qualities of food, and if these be judiciously mingled, as 

 circumstances and the successive growth of crops may admit, the appetite 

 will be provoked, and the health and thriving of the creatures will be thus 



* For the remedies regarding hoving, see Youatt's Management and Diseases of 

 Cattle, p. 438. 



If choked by the stoppage of a piece of turnip in the throat — let a strong man seize 

 the bullock by the nostrils, and keep his head at a proper height, and as straight as 

 possible, while an assistant passes the butt end of a cart-whip, or an elastic cane with a 

 dossil of tow, or loose yarn, at the end, to increase its size, gently down the throat till it 

 reaches the stomach. 



