ON STALL-FEEDIXG COWS. 29 



would feed all tlie three cows mxicli long-er tlian would be 

 ij^cessaij to meet the coming' clover crop, even in the latest 

 season. 



Here, then, the facts of the case are brong'ht before jou, 

 for yom- own decision ; and I fearlessly appeal to yourselves, 

 — is it true that two to three acres (I make my calculation 

 on two only) are frequently allotted to graze one cow during" 

 summer ? And again — is it true that an acre of clover and 

 grass-seed, a rood of vetches, and three roods of turnips, 

 with the stolen crop of rape after the vetches, will fully 

 supply food for three cows the year round i" I defy any one 

 of you to reply to either of these questions in the negative. 

 The straw of the farm, in any case, belongs to the cattle ; 

 but, in the latter case, where turnips are provided for food, it 

 is chiefly used for bedding- ; and the additional quantity of 

 g-rain which will be raised by means of the increased quantity 

 of manured land, will always keep pace with the increase of 

 the stock, and provide the increased quantity of bedding 

 required. I think, therefore, I am warranted in considering* 

 my first assertion proved, namely, that the ground generally 

 allotted to feed one cow, Avill in reality supply food for three; 

 and have only now to offer some calculations as to the accu- 

 mulation of manure, which I hope will be considered equally 

 conclusive. 



During the summer months, 3'our cow, which is only in 

 the house at milking time (and perhaps not even then, for 

 the practice is sometimes to milk her in the field), can afford 

 little or no addition to the maniu-e-heap, being upon the 

 grass both day and night ; and even in winter and spring, 

 whilst there is any open weather, they are always to be seen 

 ranging over the fields in search of food; so that I think you 

 cannot but admit (upon a calculation for the entire year 

 round), the animal is not in the house more than eight hours 

 out of the twenty-four, and it is only the manure made 

 during this period which can be reckoned upon ; therefore, 

 upon this supposition (which I think is sufiicientl}" correct to 

 show the strength of my argimient), if there is any truth in 

 arithmetic, one cow fed, as I have calculated on, in the house 

 for the entire twenty-four hours, will yield as much manure 

 as three cows that are only kept in the house for eight hours 

 — the quality of the food being supposed the same in both 

 cases ; and this would manifestly prove my assertion, 

 namely, that one cow fed within, would give as much ma- 

 nure as three fed without; and, therefore, when three can be 



