CATTLE. 



203 



In improving the breed of cattle, the objects had in 

 view should be attended to, as there are different 

 breeds adapted to different purposes. 



A breed of cattle, equally well adapted to the 

 butcher, to the dairy, and to the plough or cart, is no- 

 where to be met with ; and, so far as experience enables 

 us to judge, these properties are hardly consistent with 

 each other, and belong to animals of different forms 

 and proportions. It should be the object of farmers to 

 have all their stocks of animals of the best breeds, and 

 to study useful qualities more than showy figures. 

 Yet well-proportioned and sightly animals are generally 

 the most valuable, both as it regards usefulness and 

 keep. There are exceptions, in dairy cows particu- 

 larly. Hardihood and easiness of keep should always 

 be prominent qualities in any breed of cattle. 



The value of horned cattle Avili increase in 2^1'opor- 

 tion to the manner in which we manage them to se- 

 cure their dung. During the spring and summer they 

 should be regularly penned at night, on such parts of 

 the farm as may need improvement ; observing to 

 plough up these pens immediately on the removal of 

 the cattle, to secure their manure against loss from the 

 evaporarion of the sun and washing rains. The size 

 of the pens, and the time they should stand in them 

 before removed, will be regulated by the number of 

 the cattle, and their condition ; and, in hot weather, 

 the pens should not stand longer than two weeks be- 

 fore ploughed up, at most.- In winter, as has been 

 before observed, they should have a comfortable shel- 

 ter, closed at every point, except at the south, which 

 should open into the farm-yard. Corn-stalks are the 

 first food given to them ; and the greatest diligence 

 should be used in conveying them early to the farm- 

 yard, because they lose more from evaporation, stand- 

 ing in the field, than the other articles of food, viz. the 

 shucks tops, &c. which should be reserved fbr later 

 periods. 



