106 Livestock. 



(Mr George Bagrie, at Monkton, near Musselburgh), in- 

 forms me, that the practice of feeding horses with steamed 

 food, consisting of one-half potatoes, and the other half 

 Swedish turnips, has existed in his neighbourhood for a 

 great number of years, and has been attended with the 

 greatest success. The turnips and potatoes are steamed to- 

 gether. One boll of potatoes is put in the bottom of the bar- 

 rel, above them about eight cwt. of turnips, and then two 

 bolls of potatoes on the top.' This fills the barrel, and the 

 turnips being in the middle, they are .effectually steamed. 

 No other food is given to the horses, but the steamed po- 

 tatoes and turnips, mixed with a little chaff, or corn dust. 

 It has been proved, that farm horses will do their work as 

 well upon this food as on oats and hay, and they always 

 appear in much better condition. With the addition of 

 some straw, he has maintained his horses in this way, for 

 six months, namely, from the 1st of November to the 1st of 

 May. It is ascertained, that the produce of half the extent 

 of land, will be sufficient to feed the same number of horses 

 on this plan, that is required, when they are fed on corn and 

 hay. 



Mr Bagrie is also of opinion, that milch cows, and black 

 cattle in general, might be fed upon this food, a small por- 

 tion of salt being mixed with the liquid that flows from the 

 steamed potatoes and turnips, and any small unmarketable 

 grain, ground down for the purpose, being added to it. This 

 food, he is convinced, would equal any produced by the 

 distillery; and cattle would fatten better in two months, 

 when thus fed, than in four as they are usually treated. 

 But they should be tied up in a warm place, and their food 

 given them warm. 



The apparatus for carrying on this process, varies in 

 price, according to its size, from L.15 to L.100; and may 

 be had at Gutzmere's old work, at Leith Walk, near Edin- 

 burgh. The white yam is the preferable sort, and the po- 

 tatoes, when used, should be large. The plan suits all 

 kinds of horses, excepting those employed in hunting or 

 the turf, or in running in the mail. 



If these practices were to become general, on farms cal- 

 culated for growing potatoes and Swedish turnips, it would 

 render us independent of foreign countries for oats, and the 

 expense of raising grain would be greatly diminished. This 

 is an ample proof of the extent of our agricultural resources, 

 if encouragement were given to the art, and if the useful 



