1O JANUARY. 



j that in most, if not in all cases, this maxim 

 will prove a just one; The common cases of straw- 

 feeding are, of cows, young cattle, or black cattle 

 just bought in, and not yet put to fatting. With 

 regard to cows, the food is certainly insufficient, 

 and lets them down so much in flesh, that when 

 they calve, and are expected to yield productively, 

 they lose a considerable time, and that, perhaps, 

 the most valuable, in getting again into flesh, be- 

 fore they give their usual quantity of milk ; but if 

 they have been well and sufficiently wintered, they 

 are half summered, arid yield at once adequately. 

 For young cattle, it is still worse management ; 

 for their growth is stunted, and they never recover 

 it. Black cattle from poor mountains had better 

 be put to straw than any other stock ; but here 

 again care must be taken that the system be not de- 

 ranged by it. If well fed, and the beasts be not 

 large, they may be cleared off between harvest and 

 the end of November ; but if they are wintered on 

 straw, this may not be effected, and the farmer 

 may be forced to put himself to the expence of corn 

 or oil-cake, to feed beasts not of a size to pay well 

 enough for those articles. The observation is made 

 upon the supposition, that common notions and too 

 vague assertions are just ; but it is a point by no 

 means ascertained with sufficient accuracy, that 

 small beasts will not pay for expensive food as well 

 as large ones. The evil is less if he has plenty of tur- 

 nip or cabbage ; but for these he may have other 

 applications. In so far as regards the quality of the 1 



farm- 



