380 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XXXIV. 



than defray the charge, without attending to the larger number of beasts 

 which can be thus maintained. Indeed, unless there be an unusually large 

 proportion of permanent pasture, live stock cannot be maintained without 

 soiling in any considerable number throughout the summer months; and, 

 unless that stock be numerous, the farmer who occupies a large proportion 

 of arable land will find it an arduous and unprofitable business : but, 

 xvhere " horn and corn are conjoined" he need not fear the ejihaustion of 

 the plough. 



Chapter XXXIV. 



ON THE FEEDING OF NEAT CATTLE—iContinuecl)— WINTER STALL- 

 FEEDING. 



Although the practice of stall-feeding, when conducted in a similar 

 manner to summer-soiling, is, in fact, one and the same, yet it does 

 not generally commence among the graziers until about the month of 

 October or November ; or at that period when the season compels them 

 to bring up their cattle from grass. Many arable farmers also who have 

 no grazing land, about that time purchase grass-fed stores, which are in 

 such condition as to require only winter food to prepare them for market ; 

 and these are invariably what are called " stall-fed,'' though great numbers 

 of them are fattened in open yards. 



OX-HOUSES. 



Much diversity of opinion prevails on the subject of open sheds or 

 close stalls, as being the best for the purposes of fattening. Regarding 

 health, and perhaps the firmness and flavour of the flesh, there probably will 

 be but one persuasion in favour of the former ; but many instances could 

 be adduced to show that more profit is to be gained by the latter, and that 

 warmth is essential to the thriving of the cattle. Among others two 

 have been instanced by Arthur Young, which indeed carry the plan of heat 

 and confinement to an extraordinary extent : the one in the practice of the 

 late Mr. Moody of Retford, who was an uncommonly successful grazier, 

 and who found warmth of such consequence, that he gradually closed the 

 air-holes of his ox-house, which was purposely provided with sliders, till 

 liis beasts sweated off the hair, nor did they thrive to his mind until this 

 happened. The other is a similar system pursued on the farm of Mr. Han- 

 bury of Coggeshall, where 'the beasts are kept as warm as possible ; and 

 if it even brings oft" the hair they are found to thrive the better, and to 

 feel the better at Smithfieki. On this subject, indeed, Mr. Young adds, 

 that " men farm without an idea of the necessity of knowing wliat others 

 have done before them ; and it is very right that thousands of pounds 

 should have been lost by oil-cake, while feeding shivering beasts in open 

 sheds, by men who think they can learn nothing beyond the practice of the 

 old women their grandmothers, while the Board of Agriculture has annually 

 brought to liiiht in County Reports, practices unknown to the same men 

 who cannot see any use in such publications*." 



That stock should be kept moderately warm, as conducive to their 

 improvement, we admit; but notwithstanding the value of the practice 



* Essex Report, vol. ii. p. 300. — In tlie Sussex Report it is also said, — " That in pro- 

 portion as the cokl is exchuled, will the ox '^tt fat; warmth heinj^ almost as essential as 

 food itself. The more cattle are confined the sooner also will they fatten ; and this holds 

 good with every species of live-stock njon which experiment has reached us," p. 236. 



