344 THE IMPROVED ART OK FARRIERY. 



regularly and steadily keeping up the stimulus and 

 action of their bodies to that high state, by proper rich 

 fodder and keep, which has a tendency to cause a sort 

 of dulness, weariness, and inactivity in them, these 

 being the states most favourable for rest, sleep, and 

 quietness, which numerous facts and long experience 

 have fully shown to be the most suitable and proper 

 for depositing or laying on flesh and fat in those parts 

 of their bodies which are destined for them. Of course, 

 it follows, that the manner of giving and distributing 

 the food in such cases, must have great influence and 

 effect in promoting or delaying the feeding or fattening 

 process ; for if the greatest nicety and attention be not 

 had recourse to in such matters, much loss may easily 

 take, place, particularly when the richer and more 

 costly sorts of keep of whatever kind, are employed. As 

 in consequence of the very large proportion of fluid 

 matter, which is produced and collected in it, from so 

 much juicy and rich food being consumed, a very great 

 mass of such littery substances are speedily collected, 

 and capable of being decomposed and brought into a 

 state of manure by the constant operation of such 

 moisture with the heat which mostly prevails. There- 

 fore, in cases where proper supplies of straw for this 

 use cannot be had as they may be wanted, it becomes 

 highly necessary to provide sufficient quantities of 

 other suitable matters in the winter season, or at other 

 times. Many different substances are capable of being 

 used in this way, such as the stubble of tillage ground; 

 fern from heaths, commons, and other places ; sea- 

 ware or tangle from the banks of coasts; aquatic weeds, 

 of various kinds, from the sides of rivers and ponds ; 

 and a variety of other such matters should be collected, 

 and cut together in their dry state, when abundant, m 

 order to be stacked up near the yards for this use at a 



