Of Straw. 3(>5 



cept what was employed in thatching, was devoted to thatpur- 

 pose, and scarcely any left to litter the stalls. The hus- 

 bandry of the celebrated Bakewell was then much com- 

 mended, who used no straw for litter ; but if he had more 

 than his own cattle could consume, would rather take in 

 those of his neighbours, and give straw and attendance for 

 nothing, than use it for litter. No species of dung was then 

 valued, that had not passed through the body of an animal ; 

 and though, by littering, more muck was made, yet the dung 

 produced from straw, when eaten, was considered most pro- 

 fitable. Bakewell, however, became convinced by expe- 

 rience, that he had adopted an erroneous system, and latterly 

 littered his stock amply. His stock were thus also kept 

 in a superior condition, and his supply of manure was abun- 

 dant. 



But though the plan of feeding stock solely upon straw, 

 cannot be approved of, yet neither is the opposite extreme, 

 that of expending the whole straw, even that of pulse, in 

 litter, deserving of approbation. A moderate quantity of 

 straw given to cattle, with turnips, or other succulent food, 

 contributes much to their health. The straw of pulse, when 

 properly harvested, with an adequate proportion of corn, 

 may be given with advantage to working horses, and may 

 save more expensive articles. Without some article of in- 

 ferior quality, rich food, in too great quantities, would be- 

 come loathsome and injurious. Dry food is advantageous, 

 by its absorbing the fluids in the stomach, by which that 

 organ has greater power to act upon them ; and though such 

 food may not be so necessary, for the sake of the nourish- 

 ment it affords, an animal may thus be enabled, to take 

 greater quantities of more nutritive aliment. Unless the 

 stomach and bowels be properly distended, digestion is but 

 imperfectly accomplished, and the richest food will not nou- 

 rish ah animal with equal success. ; - 4 



The price of hay indeed, has become so enormous, that 

 it enforces, to a certain degree, the consumption of straw ; 

 nor can the soiling system, so advantageous to the farmer, 

 be carried to the same extent, unless cattle and horses are 

 partly fed with straw and haum during the winter season. 

 Indeed, in the early stages of fattening cattle, straw is as 

 good as hay, for using along with turnips. A greater quan- 

 tity of clover might, under this system, be employed in 

 summer soiling, which otherwise must have been made into 

 hay, and consumed in winter, instead of straw. But it is 

 absurd to suppose, that the straw should be wholly conr 



