356 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



01? the subject with sufficient accuracy, and in a suffi- 

 cient extensive manner, have clearly shown and proved 

 that, when properly practised, it is capable of being 

 executed at a charge so trifling in proportion to the 

 value of the beasts individually, that no real or solid 

 grounds of objection to this sort of management in such 

 cases can be found . 



The practice has been opposed by others on the 

 supposition that the beasts or stock do not thrive so 

 well in it as in pasture-feeding. But as it is well as- 

 certained, that the more quiet, easy, and free from all 

 sorts of annoyance and disturbance, neat cattle are 

 kept, the better and more readily they thrive and im- 

 prove in their flesh and condition ; it is, consequently, 

 not very probable, that fresh-cut green or grassy food 

 when eaten in the sheds or other parts of cattle- yards, 

 will be less beneficial in forwarding the growth and 

 condition of such stock, than when eaten off from the 

 pasture-field. It must be recollected too, that in the 

 pasture-fields the beasts are exposed to the great heat 

 of the sun, and to perpetual attacks of various sorts 

 of stinging and biting animals of the fly or other kinds, 

 and of course are kept in a continual state of irritation 

 and restlessness. The extensive and most minute and 

 correct trials that have been made in actual practice 

 in this way, have, however, proved that the cattle have 

 always thriven better, and fattened more expeditiously, 

 than others of the same kind, size, and age, fed in the 

 pastures, even in the most favourable years and seasons 

 for the purpose. Facts do not, therefore, support such 

 supposition, which appears to have been wholly taken 

 up on conjectural grounds, while every fact and cir- 

 cumstance strongly contradicts it. 



There are some others who contend, that cows in 

 milk do not affi^rd that fluid in so cibandant a manner 



