BREEDING AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 23 



&c., make their habitation therein, the action of the skin is 

 impaired ; the constant irritation frets the animal, and progress 

 is checked, even if more serious injury is not caused. Occa- 

 sional washing with soft soap and warm water will be found 

 very beneficial, and if parasites are present we may add a 

 portion of carbolic acid, or we may use one of the preparations 

 of this powerful agent which contains a certain quantity of 

 soap, and makes a milky emulsion with water. We are 

 acquainted with herds where this is used, not only for the 

 calves, but through the dairy, with satisfactory results. More- 

 over, the well known antiseptic properties of the carbolic acid 

 group render them doubly useful as a possible means of keeping 

 off contagious diseases ; and although the evidence is but 

 negative, and must be taken only for what it is worth, we 

 believe that during the cattle plague no disease occurred 

 where this practice of occasionally washing over the animal's 

 body with a properly diluted solution of carbolic acid was 

 persevered with. Whether this be so or not, there can be no 

 question about the importance of keeping the skin of the 

 young animal clean, as we thus insure a good circulation, 

 waste matters are duly carried off through the pores, and the 

 internal organs are not overworked. In an ordinary way two 

 washings in the first year will be sufiicient — say, when five or 

 six months, and again at nine or ten months old. During the 

 winter, and especially if there is barley straw about, we must 

 watch for lice, and wash at once if we find them. It is want 

 of attention to little matters of this kind that so frequently 

 prevents success ; our animals contract some irritating skin 

 disease, or are plagued with vermin, and are restless and 

 worried, however well they may be fed. 



The plan we have advocated as to summer feeding the calves 

 may not always be possible. In that case we must turn out 

 where there is a good bite of fine herbage, avoiding rank strong 

 pastures. By the end or middle of May the oldest calves on a 

 dairy farm will probably be three months old, and may be 

 turned out by day in a well sheltered grass field, with a shed 

 attached — if they have no shelter to run into they will suifer 

 much both from sun and rain. The most convenient shed for 

 calves is one in which they can be shut up at night, thus saving 



