xxx Notices for a Young Farmer 



steeps too strong ; as they sometimes prevent the seed shoot- 

 ing ; or produce a premature and sickly germination ; espe- 

 cially if the seed be not well rinsed or washed. You need be 

 at no loss for a choice ; as so many receipts are to be (bund 

 in books of agricultural authority, for steeps of various com- 

 positions. 



The stunted or sedge wheat, may, possibly, be the conse- 

 quence of seed grain being infected by disease, or infested by 

 insects. It would be worth the experiment, to try the effects 

 of steeps. Changing the seed, to a kind entirely different 

 from that usually sown, has been found to be a guard against 

 this serious and increasing evil. Lime, and strong lime wa- 

 ter, often have beneficial effects on diseased seed wheat. 



XVI. Be particularly careful in expending, as you should 

 be provident in raising, every species of provender for your 

 stock of horses, cattle, and sheep. A variety of food, and an 

 orderly distribution of it, are more promotive of health and 

 vigour in your domestic animals, than a lavish expenditure 

 of any one species. Such as require previous preparation, 

 should have it bestowed ; both for profit and economy. Cut 

 or chaff your hay, straw, corn tops and blades, and even 

 your stalks, with a powerful Straw Cutter ; and you will save 

 a great proportion, which is otherwise wasted, or passed 

 through the animal, without contributing to its nourishment. 

 One bushel of chaffed hay at a mess, given in a trough, three 

 times in twenty-four hours, is sufficient for an horse, ox, or 

 cow. A bushel of chaffed hay, lightly pressed, weighs from 

 5 to 5\ pounds. An horse, or horned beast, thrives more onr 

 15 lb. thus given, than on 24 or 25 lb. as commonly expended, 

 (including waste,) in the usual mode of feeding in racks ; to 

 which troughs, properly constructed, are far preferable. This 

 practice has been now fairly tested by experience ; and the 

 result accurately proved. This, and other great improve- 

 ments in feeding their domestic animals, have been forced on 

 the people of Europe by necessity. Steaming Potatoes has 

 been long practised. Boiling or scalding provender commonly 

 given dry, is found to be highly beneficial. The Turnij) cul- 

 ture, on an extensive scale, succeeds better there, than it does 



