BUILDINGS, AND THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURE. 17 



a sanitary lesson cattle teach us, as they stand for hours exposed 

 to rain, though a warm and dry shed offers a tempting lair. Nature 

 points out the importance of this al fresco bath ; the rain causes 

 reaction and increased circulation ; the pores are kept open. 

 When housed, nature's flesh brush is lost, and we must try and 

 compensate. In the box, they can rub themselves in every 

 direction, and so do well. 



Instances may occur in which it is desirable to feed all the 

 year round. Mr. Mechi and others adopted this plan as the 

 only means of making sufficient manure ; but it cannot be 

 recommended with any idea of profit. Our animals live far 

 more cheaply out, either in the grass fields or in yards, and 

 generally come in about October. They should be gradually 

 accustomed to the change; a yard and shed for two or three 

 weeks will be an intermediate arrangement that must be bene- 

 ficial. Great attention must be paid to ventilation ; the cattle 

 house cannot be too cool at first. The sudden change induces 

 sweating, and we have known cattle brought at once from 

 pasture into boxes lose more weight by sweating during the 

 first two months than they gained by food. We think in the 

 case of very strong coats the scissors might be used with 

 advantage; certainly it is very desirable to check excessive 

 sweating. If first placed in yards at nights, then kept 

 altogether in yards, and so quieted down and accustomed to 

 change of food and manipulation, a considerable step will be 

 gained, and progress in the boxes will be rapid and without 

 check. Indeed, we do not think a beast should be in the box 

 longer than suffices to fill it with manure, and then, walking 

 out fat on the level, he makes room for a successor. There- 

 fore the preliminary attention in the yards is most important, 

 bringing them on through the first stages ; so the feeder 

 secures a succession of animals, picking out as a start the 

 forwardest, and working on through his lot. 



Inasmuch as the principal object in cattle feeding is the 

 manufacture of manure, it may not be considered out of place 

 if we devote a few lines to its consideration, not only as to the 

 actual making of manure, but also as to its preservation. Much 

 misapprehension has and does prevail on the subject, illustrating 

 the old proverb, that " a little knowledge is a dangerous thing." 



