SOILING CATTLE. 411 



and that the plough can be driven, if desired, straight through 

 from one side of the farm to the other, and the argument 

 needs no re-enforcement. 



Concerning the condition of the cattle, the following is 

 stated by Quincy : " One writer asserts that he has kept a 

 large herd for several years in this way, and during the 

 whole time ' he never had an animal essentially sick, had 

 never one die, and had never one miscarry. 1 " The general 

 result of the experience of hundreds of farmers in Europe, 

 and of considerable experience in America, is, that cattle 

 are really better off' in every way, under the protection of 

 the soiling barn, with its ample and regularly supplied 

 food, and with the advantage of daily currying and exer- 

 cise, than when left to shift for themselves exposed to the 

 vicissitudes of the weather. 



The quantity of milk may never be so large as it is du- 

 ring the flush weeks of June, when the cows are gorging 

 their maiden appetites on rich grass ; but the consumption 

 of food from the first of May to the first of November (and 

 consequently the yield of milk) will be much greater. 



" Last, but by no means the least," the question of manure 

 asserts its claim to the fullest consideration. Were it not 

 for this item of the calculation the arguments in favor of 

 soiling would lose more than half their force. 



The immense superiority, both in quality and evenness of 

 distribution over the soil, of manure which is made and kept 

 under cover, over that which is dropped at random on pas- 



