CATTLE. 



135 



leisure, and, whenever we observed them, tliey were clean and free from 

 smell, and every thing objectionable. The fact of the treadino;, and thor- 

 ough consolidation by the animals' feet, prevents fermentation, and the 

 consequent evolution of gases which would take place if mere stall-feed- 

 ing were practiced. On the whole, we think there are many more valid 

 reasons in favor of than against box-feeding. 



The direction given to men's minds by the experiments of Mr. 

 Warnes, induced trials with all kinds of modifications of flax-seed cook- 

 ing; but the one which has obtained the greatest amount of favor is 

 that adopted by Mr. Marshall, near Thirsk. The great diiference be- 

 tween Mr. Marshall's plan and that of Mr. Warnes, is, that the material 

 cooked has not the heat applied to it directly, but to the outside of the 

 boiler in which it is to be cooked, so that no direct application of the 

 fire shall take place to barn the mucilaginous matter. Mr. Marshall in- 

 sists that, to cook the material properly, it must be boiled at least two 

 hours. 



His mode is this : — one pound of flax-seed is boiled for two or three 

 liours in about one and a half gallons of ^vater. Five pounds of straw 

 are chopped, say one inch long, and mixed with two and a half pounds 

 of ground oats or barley meal very intimately, which is then placed on 

 a floor of flags of bricks, and the boiled seed poured upon the mass, and 

 turned, and then allowed to cool one or two hours, when it is given to 

 the cattle. 



The cost of the apparatus or fitting will be about £50 (or $250.) 

 On the whole we think it very desirable to adopt one or the other pro- 

 cess in all situations where an increased quantity, and better quality of 

 manure is a desideratum, not to mention the more profitable return, as 

 exhibited in both the systems described. 



Mr. Warnes, altogether unprejudiced in favor of his own peculiar sys- 

 tem, has been experimenting on the mode recommended by some gra- 

 ziers, of steeping the linseed-meal in cold water for some twelve or 

 fourteen hours, — when a slight mucilaginous deposit was the result. 

 The experiment will no doubt be carefully and accurately made under 

 his directions ; but, we confess, our prepossessions are in favor of the 

 cooked materials. 



The following is a plan of Mr Warnes's shed boxes for cattle-feeding: 



in I ft 



n 



_c 



1. Cooking house, 20 by IG feet. 



2. Pump. 



3. Storehouse, for roots, &c. 



4. 4. Boxes averagiiii; 90 square feet eirli. 



5. Fodder-boupp, with tank under the floor. 



6. Passage, 4 feet. 



Mr. Tliompson, of Moat Ilall, Yorkshire, a most skillful and accurate 



