70 



THE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



The more impervious tlie floor the better, and for this purpose 

 we recommend asphalte, a good foundation of rough stones or 

 some similar material being laid first, and then the asphalte on 

 top of it. As some of our readers may be ignorant how asphalte- 

 may be cheaply made, we will attempt to explain its manu- 

 facture. Take either gravel stones or broken flints of about 

 half an inch in diameter, and have the dirt carefully sifted out ; 

 then spread them on a wooden board with side ledges, and pour- 

 gas tar on a little at a time, turning over the stones or flints 

 with a shovel until every stone is wet with tar. They cannot be 

 turned too much. Care must be taken that no tar is left 

 besides what the stones take up. The next process is to add 

 enough sharp sand to make the mixture of the consistence of 

 thick pudding, turning it over as before. The floor on which the 

 mixture is to be laid should be carefully levelled, and then it 

 should be laid on from three to six inches thick. A little sand 

 must be sprinkled over it to prevent the roller sticking to it, 

 and then roll with a heavy roller. This can be done during the 

 summer months, when the shed is not required, and when there 

 will be every chance of the surface getting quite firm and hard 

 before the cattle begin to tread it. It must on no account be 

 used for a month, and should be rolled as often as possible 

 until perfectly hard. 



Before dismissing the subject of tying up cattle in what 

 would otherwise be open sheds, we would remark that no divi- 

 sions will be requisite between the animals beyond the posts to 

 which the chains are attached. If wooden divisions be put up 

 they would interfere with the utility of the shed if it should be 

 required as an open one at any time ; whereas, if there are no 

 divisions, it will be almost in the same state it was in before 

 being altered. 



And now we come to the mangers and racks. The latter we 

 believe to be a most useless appendage, and one that we expect 

 to see every year less common. The manger, if properly made,, 

 will answer the purpose of a rack, if long hay or straw be given, 

 without distressing the animal in getting its food. Cows are 

 not intended by nature to eat their food as a giraffe does, and 

 therefore they cannot with ease to themselves pull hay out of a 

 rack placed on a level with their horns when standing upright. 



