5*06 



SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. Part II. 



, logy, the ratutt of certain experiment*, made by T. A. Knight <>n the vegetable kingdom, seems to 

 Justify ua in concludii may become not only advantageous, but even necessary 



for the purpose of correcting defects Nevertheless, at the last mentioned writer and (hue observe, it can 

 only be safely resorted to by skilful and experienced breeders. See the Rev. H. lierry, in Brit. Farm, 

 flag, vol* ii. .\ iii.j 



Sect. III. Of the General Principles of rearing, managing, and feeding Domestic 



Animals. 



2066. Immediately after the birth of every animal, even of such as are domesticated, the 

 rudiments <>t" iti education, as well as its bodily nourishment, ore necessarily given by the 

 mother. For this purpose the latter should, during her pregnancy, have been duly 

 protected against all extremes of temperature, well provided with shade and shekel, and 

 abundantly Supplied with food and water. When the period of gestation arrives, she 

 should, in general, also be separated from the rest of the flock or herd, and by whatever 

 means the case may demand, kept comfortable and tranquil. 



2067. After the birth, the first interference on the part of man should be, that of 

 supplying the mother with food of a light and delicate quality, compared with that which 

 she had been in the habit of using, and also of administering the same description of food 

 to the offspring, as far as it may by its nature be able to use it. The gentlest treatment 

 should accompany these operations; and the opportunity taken of familiarising both parent 

 and offspring with man, by gently caressing them, or at least by familiar treatment on 

 the part of the attendant. 



•2068. As the animals increase in size and strength, they should have abundance of air, 

 exercise, and food, according to their natures; and whatever is attempted by man in the 

 way of taming or teaching should be conducted on mild and conciliating principles, 

 rather than on those of harshness and compulsion. Caresses, or familiar treatment, 

 should generally be accompanied by small supplies of food, at least at first, as an 

 inducement to render the animal submissive to them ; afterwards habit will, even in the 

 inferior creation, render the familiarities of man agreeable to them for their own sake; 

 but even then, to keep up this feeling, small portions of select food should frequently 

 be employed as a reward. By contrasting this method with that of taming or teaching 

 animals by fear or compulsion, the advantages of the former mode will be evident. 



2069. Interest is the grand mover of the lower animals as well as of man. In taming by fear all the 

 interest which the animal has is the avoiding of an evil ; in taming by caresses and food it is the attain, 

 mentof enjoyment. The most extraordinary results are recorded as having been obtained by the mild 

 mode with almost everv species of animal on which it has been tried : to this may be advantageously 

 joined in the more powerful animals, hunger and fatigue. " The breeder Bakewell, Surgeon Hunt 

 informs us, at an advanced period of life, not onlv conquered a vicious restive horse, but, without tne 

 assistance of either grooms or jockevs, taught this horse to obey his verbal orders with as great attention 

 as the most accomplished animal that was ever educated at Astley's school. Bakewell was accustomed to 

 sav that his horse could do everv thing but speak. The method which he took to conquer this vicious 

 animal was never told, even to his own domestics. He ordered his own saddle and bridle to be put 

 on this horse, which at that time was thought to be ungovernable, when he was prepared for a journey of 

 two or three hundred miles ; and, that no one might be witness to the contest, he led the horse till he was 

 bevond the reach of observation. How far he walked, or in what manner this great business was 

 accomplished, was never known ; but, when he returned from his journey, the horse was as gentle as a 

 lamb, and would obey his master's verbal orders on all occasions. When what are called irrational 

 animals .ire taught such strict obedience to the command of a superior order, it is in general supposed to 

 be the effect of fear ; but Bakewell never made use of either whip or spur. When on horseback he had 

 a strong walking-stick in his hand, which he made the most use of when on foot; he always rode with a 

 slack rein, which he frequently let lie upon the horse's neck, and so great was his objection to spurs, that 

 he never wore them. It was iiis opinion that all such animals might be conquered by gentle means ; and, 

 such was his knowledge of animal nature, that he seldom failed in his opinion, whether his attention was 

 directed to the body or the mind." {Agr. Mem., p. 127.) 



'2070. The purposes fn which animals are fed or nourished are for promoting their 

 enlargement or growth"; for fitting them for iabour; for the increase of certain animal 

 products; or for fattening them for slaughter as human food. We shall confine our 

 remarks to the last purpose as being the most important, and as necessarily including 

 much of what belongs to the three others. In the fattening of cattle the following points 

 require to be attended to : abundance of proper food, a proper degree of heat, protection 

 against extremes of weather, good air and water, moderate exercise, tranquillity, clean- 

 liness, comfort, and health. 



'2071. Food, though it must be supplied in abundance, ought not to be given to 

 satiety. Intervals of resting ami exercise must be allowed according to circumstances. 

 Even animals grazing on a rich pasture have been found to feed faster when removed 

 from it once a day. and either folded or put in an inferior pasture for two or three 

 hours. Stall fed cattle and swine will have their flesh improved in flavour by being 

 turned out into a yard or held once a day ; and many find that they feed better, and 

 produce better-flavoured meat, when kept loose under warm sheds or hammels, one or 

 two in a division, a practice now very general in Berwickshire. (See Hammel.) 

 Coarser food may be first given to feeding animals; and, as they acquire flesh, that 

 which is of more "solid and "substantial quality. In general it may be observed, that if 

 the digestive powers of the animal are in a sound state, the more food he eats the sooner 

 will the desired result be obtained ; a very moderate quantity beyond sufficiency con- 



