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55 



ing the first week; three during ^ 

 the second ; and let them have 

 the whole of the milk during the 

 third and fourth weeks ; and then 

 kill them, if they have all the 

 milk at first, they will grow so fast 

 that they will soon need more 

 than all : The natural consequence 

 is, that thev will grow lean, and 

 not be fit for veal. Many kill 

 them at three weeks old ; but the 

 veal is not commonly so good, and 

 the skins of calves so young, are 

 of but little value. 



When calves are to be reared, 

 some permit them to run with, or 

 at least to suck the cow, during 

 the first season, and it is a preva- 

 lent opinion that they are improv- 

 ed by it. It is, however, certain 

 that the best raisers of valuable 

 stock in England, and even here, 

 do not concur in this sentiment. 

 Experience has shown that the 

 finest possible animals have been 

 raised in great numbers, without 

 taking any milk from the cow af- 

 ter three days. They may go 

 with the cows the first three or 

 four days. They should have 

 milk, more or less, for about 

 twelve weeks. They may be fed 

 with skimmed milk, or water por- 

 ridge, after the first fortnight ; or 

 hay tea may be mixed with their 

 milk; or their milk may be mixed 

 with meal and water. After a 

 calf has sucked, or drunk milk, for 

 the space of a month, take some 

 of the freshest and sweetest hay, 

 and put little wisps of it into some 

 cleft sticks, stuck up in such a 

 manner that he can easily come at 

 them, and he will soon learn 

 to eat. 



" If skim milk is given to calves, 

 it should be boiled, and suffered 

 to stand till it cools to the temper- 

 ature of that first given by the cow. 

 It is better boiled than when 

 warmed only. If the milk be 

 given too cold it will cause the 

 calf to purge. If this is the case, 

 put two or three spoonfuls of run- 

 net in the milk and it will stop the 

 looseness. If the calf is bound, 

 pork broth is said to be a good and 

 safe thing to put into the milk. 



It is not true that calves are best 

 weaned upon grass ; and the rea- 

 son assigned is both unfounded 

 and absurd viz. that when raised 

 on hay they become big-bellied. 

 They do not in fact become so. 

 They are much more docile when 

 raised in the barn, thrive faster, 

 and are as lively ; and even if 

 their bellies did grow larger, we 

 are yet to learn that such a cir- 

 cumstance would be a blemish in 

 a milk cow. It is thought by 

 many to be an excellent mark. 



Mr. Budd, of Massachusetts di 

 rects to take the calves from the 

 cows, when three days old, and 

 feed them with gruel, composed 

 of one third barley and two thirds 

 oats, each ground fine, and the 

 mixture sifted. A quart of this 

 gruel is to be given to each calf, 

 morning and evening. The gruel 

 is made by taking one quart of the 

 flour, and twelve of water, and 

 boiling them together for half an 

 hour, and is to be given while milk 

 warm. 



Mr. John Gordon says that 

 " calves should not be suffered to 

 eat any grass the first year, and 

 from experience 1 find it much the 



