AND RURAL ECONOIMIST. 41"' 



Mv barn is constructed according to the best Pennsylva- 

 nia models. The yard is to the south of it. On the east 

 and west sides are cow stables, containing one hundred and 

 ten well made stalls, ventilated by a sufficient number of 

 windows and double doors. At the tails of each range of 

 cows there is a drain made of strong planks, and so fixed as 

 to receive all their dung and urine. These several drains 

 have a svifficient declivity to carry all the fluid matter to their 

 southern terminations, where they intersect similar drains, 

 which convey all this liquid manure into a cistern, fifty feet 

 long. This cistern is so placed and constructed as to receive 

 not only the urine of the stables, but also the liquid matter 

 of the farm-yard. In it there is a pump, by means of which 

 its contents are pumped into a large hogshead, fixed on a 

 pair of wheels drawn by oxen. To the end cf this hogshead 

 is attached a box pierced with holes, into which this liquid 

 manure floats through a spigot and faucet, and is then 

 sprinklea over the ground as the oxen move forward. 



Food J or fatting Cattle, keeping Stock, ^-c. It has been 

 often said, and w^e believe correctly, that it is not profitable, 

 generally speaking, to fatten cattle on any kind of grain. 

 Lawrence on Neat Cattle asserts that ' corn [by which is 

 meant oats, barley, rye, peas, beans, wheat, &c.] cannot be 

 used in the fattening of bullocks and sheep, except in seasons 

 of superabundant plenty. Even Indian corn is often too 

 costly food to be used solely, or principally, for the profitable 

 fattening of cattle ; and grass, hay, and roots are the materi- 

 als which true economy requires."^ It is, however, asserted, 

 that beef fattened on oil cake, raw potatoes, turnips, &c., 

 will not be so firm, nor of so good a quality, other things be- 

 ing equal, as that which is fattened on Indian corn. If that 

 be true, it might be well to commence feeding with turnips, 

 potatoes, (fee, and give the animals richer food as they in- 

 crease in fatness. 



An able writer says, ' With respect to feeding, the first rule 

 is, little at a time, and often ; because experience has shown 

 that animals that eat much in a short time do not fatten so 

 well as those which eat less but more frequently. The se- 

 cond rule is to begin the course with cabbage and turnips, 

 then to employ carrots and potatoes, and lastly Indian, oat, 

 or barley meal. These aliments ought to be varied several 

 times a day, and oftener if convenient ; and instead of always 



* See a communication for the N. E. Farmer, vol. i. p. 234. 



