BREEDING AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 29 



and act the part of tlie cream which the calf gets in the natural 

 state, although this may be more directly imitated by using a 

 small quantity of palm-nut meal, a substance containing about 

 13 per cent, of fatty matter indentical in composition with the 

 fatty matter of cream. We must introduce this substance by 

 degrees, for animals do not take it very kindly at first, on 

 account of its gritty texture ; but if used in conjunction with 

 sugar, we are satisfied from our own experience that it would 

 do good. Mr. Ruck advocates the use of a little hay cut up 

 with straw, especially when the calf is just deprived of its liquid 

 food. During the first winter the following mixture is recom- 

 mended : 5cwt. of straw chaff, 5s. ; lOcwt. of pulped mangolds, 

 5s. ; Icwt. of oil cake, 10s. ; and 4cwt. of mixed crushed corn at 

 30s. ; put together and allowed to heat moderately. This gives 

 a ton of stuff superior to hay for 50s. ; a small quantity of hay 

 might, however, be added with advantage. Mr. Euck touches 

 upon the diseases of calves, referring especially to murrain, 

 blackleg, husk, scour, and lice, and gives some simple rules 

 which are familiar to stock breeders. Thus murrain, which is a 

 stoppage in the circulation of blood in the extremities, is easily 

 distinguished by the crackling under the skin when the hand is 

 passed over the infected part. It usually occurs when calves 

 that have been badly kept are suddenly put into a luxuriant 

 though watery pasture ; blood is made too fast, and the system 

 is unable to get rid of the excess of carbon. Prevention is 

 better than cure, which is seldom possible ; therefore always 

 keep stock thriving. With regard to husk, Mr. Euck believes 

 it arises from a threadlike worm in the windpipe, resulting from 

 ova taken in with lattermath grass, and therefore recommends 

 that calves should, if turned out, be always kept on land that 

 has been fed in the spring. The risk of disease from this 

 cause would be obviated by yard feeding. Scour, which is very 

 common with badly fed calves, may be prevented by generous 

 diet regularly supplied. Of course, it is impossible always to 

 have our animals in health, but nine-tenths of the maladies of 

 young stock arise from mismanagement. Everything depends 

 upon close attention to details, feeding with great regularity, 

 supplying the proper amount of food to each animal in a suit- 

 able condition for rapid digestion, taking care that young stock 



