NEAT CATTLE. 163 



ly with others perfectly at ease. Even hog-s, though 

 prone to wallow in the mire in warm weather, are al- 

 ways pleased with a dry bed, and thrive best when kept 

 clean. 



Oil-cakes^ are of great use, for feeding cows before 

 calving. Flax-seed broth, or jelly, is much recommend- 

 ed for fatting. It is made by putting about a quart of 

 flaxseed to seven of water, and then let stand about 

 forty-eight hours; after vvhich il is to be boiled gently 

 for two hours, stirring it trequently to prevent its burn- 

 ing. When cool, it is to be mixed with meal, bran, or 

 cut-straw, and fed out at the rate of about two quarts a 

 day to each beast, and it is said to make a great saving 

 in the article of food. It is also uselul for fattening 

 calves. 



The more cattle can be made to eat with an appetite, 

 the sooner they grow fat. It is bad economy to spare 

 food in this case : a certain quantity daily is requisite (o 

 preserve a beast from falling awa}'^ ; and an addition is 

 necessary to put fat on him. Therefore the sooner he 

 is fatted, the greater proportion of what is necessary for 

 bare maintenance, is saved. 



Cattle ought not to be turned to pasture in the spring, 

 until there is a good bite of grass. x\nd if it consists of 

 the artiiicial grasses, care must be used to prevent them 

 from receiving injury. The milch-cows and fatting cat- 

 tle should have the best or first feeding of each pasture 

 lot. 



The cow is generally in her prime at five years old, 

 and will continue in a good milking state till ten years 

 of age or upwards. The time of milking ought to be 

 regular, and as nearly equi-distant as possible. Where 

 the feeding is full, milking three times a day in summer, 

 will increase the milk nearly one third. Omitting to 

 milk regularly and clean, tends very much to dry them 

 up. The milk last taken from a cow has been found to 

 produce a much larger proportion of butter than the 

 iirst. 



It is considered best to select cows from the stock 

 raised on the farm ; if brought from other farms it is 

 frequently two years before they will give the full quan- 

 tity of milk. In the improvement of the breed of cat- 

 tle, select those cow* vvhich yield the most of such 



