48 FIELD AND FERN. 



meanwhile taken the place of the green food, when the allowance of raised 

 oilcake and oats is increased to one pound per head. In April it is again in- 

 creased to two pounds each, with hay or oat straw, until the grass becomes ready 

 for cutting. It must be observed that the young stock do not get, during 

 winter, as many turnips as they would eat. The first feed in the morning is 

 their allowance of oilcake and oats. At 9 o'clock a.m., turnips are given, and 

 again at 3 p.m. ; but there is no restriction put on the quantity of straw, and 

 what they do not consume between the feeding tunes is used for litter. In 

 addition to keeping the young stock in a constantly improving state, which 

 is a most important consideration in any system of rearing, the "Westerseat 

 mode of feeding has proved to be a complete antidote to the quarter-ill 

 or blackleg, which at one time prevailed on the farm. Calves which have 

 been kept in the manner described never lose condition, but are always getting 

 better, and the result is that they fetch from 12 to 15 each when a year or 

 fourteen months old. A lot of twenty-four of that age were sold last April off 

 the farm at 13 a head, and were considered cheap at the money. If kept on 

 till they are eighteen months old they will weigh 40 to 48 stones that is 5 to 

 6 cwt. ; and such have been sold by Mr. Henderson in October at 18 a head. 

 The usual quantity of turnips given to young beasts is about 401bs. per head 

 daily. Some keep their young stock tied up in the house, turning them out 

 for an hour or two into the foldyards ; while others keep them in open courts 

 or yards, having sheds attached, to which the cattle have at all times free 

 access. These yards hold five or six beasts, and great care is taken that the 

 partners in each court shall be equally matched ; for it would never answer 

 to have a weakly animal put among others which were stronger." 



Sir John's system differs from Mr. Henderson's in 

 this, that the calves are weaned on lib. of oilcake, 

 and as soon as the weather is cold and they come 

 into the yards the allowance is increased by lib. of 

 bruised oats. Where the calves do not suckle, each 

 has about eight quarts daily of warm milk direct from 

 the cow, and divided into three meals. After the 

 first three weeks, a little oilcake made into jelly with 

 hot water is put into the milk, and gradually in- 

 creased in quantity up to a pound per day. When 

 they are nearly four months old, skim-milk is substi- 

 tuted for new, and they are carried on with it and 

 the oilcake for a month, and are then well grazed 

 and generally sheltered at night. 



Sir George D unbar was, like Sir John Sinclair, 

 one of the first followers of Mr. Home in the short- 

 horn crosses; and we found some promisiDg prize 



