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we should bo rendered perfectly independent of foreign aid. 

 The Flemish farmers say, " that without manure there is no 

 corn ; without cattle there is no manure ; without green crops 

 and roots cattle cannot be kept ; and he who can make manure 

 at the least cost is the best farmer." 



I have long exemplified the beneficial results of house-feeding 

 cattle on green crops, and now all my bullocks are provided 

 with a separate box. 



I do not speak of turnips, because the management of that 

 crop is too well known to require any observations from me. 

 But with respect to the economy of carrying grass from the 

 field and giving it to bullocks in houses, cut short with an 

 engine (Dyball's), perhaps a few remarks may not be super- 

 fluous. The greatest care should be paid to the economical 

 use of straw in winter, so that a proper supply may be at hand 

 for summer-grazing. One half of the straw generally consumed 

 in farm-yards might by care and attention be reserved for this 

 purpose. First, by properly stacking and thatching it ; secondly, 

 by placing troughs * upon the buildings to conduct the rain- 

 water from the yards ; and, thirdly, by keeping cattle longer in 

 the fields in winter. There is no question as to the benefit 

 derived from consuming turnips on the land in winter, but 

 considerable doubts are entertained respecting feeding off grass 

 in summer. I have heard it repeatedly asserted that better 

 wheat is grown where grass has been mowed for hay than 

 whpre it has been fed down. This has been frequently proved 

 in fields divided by hurdles, one part fed, the other mowed, 

 but both treated alike for wheat. Admitting that the land 

 obtains no perceptible benefit by feeding off the grass in 

 summer, how strongly does it argue in favour of feeding 

 cattle in boxes, if only for the sake of the manure ! But the 

 advantage is greatly augmented when we consider that one 

 acre will house-feed three bullocks; whereas it will require 

 three acres to graze them in the field. Taking the value of 

 the manure into consideration, the superiority of box-feeding 

 is incalculably great. 



* Cast-iron troughs are sold at Gd. per foot, the cost of which would be 

 ami)ly repaid the first year ; and they could remain as farm-covenants if put 

 tip by tiie tenant. 



K 



