68 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



Dr. Deane was of opinion that it was better to wean 

 calves on hay than on grass. ' They are more docile when 

 raised in the barn, and thrive better.' A Mr. John Gordon 

 says that ' calves should not be suffered to eat any grass the 

 first year, and from experience I find it much the cheapest to 

 keep them shut up and feed them, as the land sufficient to 

 pasture one will produce hay enough to feed two calves 

 through the year, and pay the expense of cultivation, and 

 one year's growth will certainly be added to the cattle.^ 



It is not probable, however, that many of our farmers will 

 incur the trouble of raising calves in a barn ; therefore, 

 •when calves are put in a pasture, it should be such as is 

 dry and sweet. White clover is the best for them ; red clo- 

 ver or trefoil is also good. Mr. L. Hommedieu recommends 

 that there be no water in the pasture, but sufficient shade. 

 The effect of this is that the calves learn to feed at night, or 

 when the dew is on, and lie by in the day ; and as the grass 

 while wet with dew is believed to be most nourishing, they 

 will in this way thrive much better than those which have 

 free access to water ; for this, it is contended by Mr. L. 

 Hommedieu, has a tendency to stunt them, and make them 

 pot-bellied. Probably the better way is, to give them a little 

 nourishing drink at certain times, when the dews fail, or at 

 mid-day, Avhen the weather is very warm.'t 



The best calves for bringing up are those calved early in 

 the season, or before June. ' When calves are weaned, they 

 should not be suffered to be with their dams any more till 

 fall ; neither should they be pastured within sight or hear- 

 ing of them. It will cause them to neglect their feeding ; 

 and they will not forget their sucking. 



At the setting in of cold nights in autumn, calves must be 

 nightly housed ; and not be out early in the morning, nor 

 late in the evening. And as the pinching cold of winter will 

 be extremely detrimental to them, they should be kept very 

 warm in their house, well supplied with water, and let out 

 only on the warmest days. A great deal of care is necessa- 

 ry to bring them through the first winter, which is the most 

 dangerous period of their lives. They will acquire so much 

 strength during the following summer that they will have 

 nothing to fear from the cold of a second winter.' — Buffon, 

 Histoire Naturelle. 



i lie American Farmer gives the following method of 



* Mass. Agr. Rep. vpl. v. p. 78. f Farmer's Assistant. 



