58 Soiling. 



in a field, patches of distasteful grasses or noxious 

 weeds are left untouched by the stock, except in 

 case of great hunger, and allowed to go to seed. 

 The seed is scattered about the field and pressed 

 into the soil under the hoofs of the feeding stock. 

 In time the pasture thus becomes only a garden of 

 weeds. This would never occur were the practice 

 of cutting adopted. Mr. Youatt, an English author, 

 says, in his valuable work, " The Complete Grazier " : 

 " If a close consumption of plants is the object prin- 

 cipally regarded, it is evident that the benefit to be 

 derived from soiling will be very great ; for experi- 

 ence has clearly proved that cattle will eat many 

 plants with avidity, if cut and given to them in the 

 barn, which they would never touch while growing 

 in the field." 



THE BETTER CONDITION AND GREATER COMFORT 

 OF FARM STOCK. 



On this question there is no chance whatever for 

 argument. The difference in the condition of cattle 

 soiled and those at pasture is decidedly and positive- 

 ly in favor of soiling. 



In the first place, all animals that chew the cud 

 are particularly adapted to the soiling system for 

 several reasons. The very nature of their digestive 

 organs shows that they are best provided for when 

 they can have their feed in abundance and near at 

 hand. Their habit is to collect their food quickly 

 until the first stomach or paunch is full. This first 



