76 THE CATTLE OP GREAT BRITAIN. 



meat, and must arrange our buildings so as to contain tlie 

 requisite machinery and raw material, so placed as to secure 

 the maximum result with the greatest economy. The arrange- 

 ments for the preparation of corn for market are quite of 

 secondary importance; all the space formerly devoted to the 

 storing of sheaf corn can be dispensed with. Dutch barns and 

 portable machinery effect the object in a much simpler manner, 

 and a granary over the cart lodge should be useful, not for 

 storing the corn, but for dressing it for market. 



And now as regards the comparative advantages of boxes or 

 stalls, for feeding animals, we think it must be clear that the 

 loose box, if properly ventilated, will prove the most comfortable 

 to the animal, as offering less contrast to life out of doors than 

 the stall. The young animal has room to move about, lie down, 

 and rise up in any position, and freedom to rub — a point of 

 considerable importance. When once settled, beasts thrive 

 better in boxes than in stalls ; and young animals especially, 

 which grow their flesh as well as lay on fat, must have freedom 

 to move about. The box system tends to a cheerful, contented 

 state ; the beast can see and even lick his neighbour, if inclined ; 

 there is no hindrance, though possibly a bar, to intercourse ; 

 and, thus being in company, the beast rests better than if quite 

 apart. The minimum size of a box should be 9ft. by 9ft., 

 the depth of the box from the surface not to exceed 2ft. For- 

 merly it was customary to have the pits 3ft. ; but this is a 

 mistake, as it is inconvenient for getting the beasts in and the 

 manure out ; and, with care as to the supply of litter, we shall 

 find that the depth named will hold the manufacture of three 

 months. Nine feet square will be sufficiently large for ordinary 

 beasts ; but we should prefer 10ft. by 9ft., giving the extra foot 

 in width on account of the space occupied by the manger. The 

 great objection to the box is the cost. Two animals can be 

 stalled in the same space. This, however, may be partially 

 remedied by having a double row and gangway common to 

 both. If young animals are stall-fed, they should be allowed to 

 stretch their legs once a day, or, if this is not practicable, the 

 skin should be regularly brushed over daily with a strong brush. 

 The irritation encourages circulation and exhalation, and the 

 healthy state of the skin has much to do with progress. What 



