and on the Dairy Husbandry. 117 



him. It is desirable to change his food often, and to give him fre- 

 quently, but little at a time, which makes him more eager to eat. 

 After his kidneys are covered with fat, he will take less meat every 

 week. It is better therefore, to ascertain the quantity he eats, by 

 the week, than by the day. 



Fatting cattle, to be sold immediately from the farmer's house, and 

 not sent to market, should be kept moderately warm. If kept too 

 hot, it makes them perspire, and causes their skins to itch. This vexes 

 them, and they rub themselves against any wall or post within their 

 reach, which is much against quick feeding. Currying and combing 

 them are useful practices ; and washing them, at least once a-week, 

 is of great service. Bleeding is now exploded, as an unnecessary 

 practice. 



3. Suckling Farms. 



The feeding of calves for veal, has long been practised in every part 

 of the kingdom, and, when properly conducted, is a branch of in- 

 dustry of considerable importance, and from which an adequate pro- 

 fit may be derived. In Essex, the attention of the farmer, is chiefly 

 dedicated, to the object of supplying the metropolis, with so important 

 an article as veal, and the plan, in that district, is reckoned more pro- 

 fitable than grazing, or even the dairy. The mode of supplying 

 the London market, as described by Dr Dickson, from the various 

 authorities he quotes is, that the calves are bought at from twenty to 

 thirty shillings, and kept till they fetch from L.4 to L.5, or sometimes 

 from L.7 to L.8. He says, the business of suckling is reckoned to 

 turn to good account, when each calf, in the progress of its fattening, 

 brings a profit to the farmer of 3s. per week. In the report for the 

 county of Middlesex, it is stated, that suckling of calves is more pro- 

 fitable than grazing or fattening ; but not so profitable as the dairy ; 

 And the surveyor of the county of Essex reports, that the suckling of 

 calves for twelve weeks, will pay at the rate of 4s. 6d. each calf, per 

 week. 



But by far the best conducted system of feeding veal, to be met 

 with in the island, is in Lanarkshire, and more especially in Strathaven 

 and its neighbourhood, for there it yields a profit, that has never been 

 equalled in any other part of Britain. Some calves, after being fed, 

 from five to six weeks, on the milk of their dam, will bring from L.3 to 

 L.4, 10s. each, according as the animal may have been of a thriving 

 sort or otherwise, and as veal may happen to be in demand at the 

 time ; and as a new dropped calf, can be procured at from 6s. to 1 Os. or 

 12s., and brought to those prices in five or six weeks, upon the milk of 

 one cow, the return is more than quadruple that mentioned in Essex, 

 notwithstanding its vicinity to London. Many calves however, are 

 fed in that district, to a much greater pitch than can be accomplish- 

 ed with the milk of one cow, which cannot carry on a calf to advan- 

 tage, longer than about five or six weeks. After that age, the calves 

 get the milk of two cows, and in some instances of three cows, divest- 

 ed of the first drawn, which is poor in quality. After being fed for 

 several weeks in this manner, a calf will reach nearly the weight of a 



k 



