ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 99 



but little stock raised and fattened expressly for the butcher, as 

 it is not considered profitable. Considerable stock must neces- 

 sarily be fattened ; old cattle must be turned off, and young 

 ones take their places. Some farmers have made it profitable 

 by purchasing cattle in the spring, putting them into a good 

 pasture, and selling them to the butcher, in the latter part of 

 summer, or early in autumn, before the droves come in from 

 the country, as they then command a higher price than later in 

 the season. But this cannot be done successfully, unless the 

 pastures are very good, which is not, generally, the case. 

 Cattle should always be kept in good flesh, for several reasons. 

 Cows will give more milk, and of better quality. Oxen will 

 perform more labor. Should a leg be broken, or some other ac- 

 cident happen, they will not be a total loss. Or, should beef be 

 unusually high, they can easily be prepared for the butcher. 

 Besides, it is much pleasanter seeing the stalls filled with fat, 

 smooth cattle, than those like Pharaoh's lean kine. And, that 

 cattle may be kept in good flesh, pastures should not be over- 

 stocked, and, when the feed grows short, as it usually does in 

 the latter part of summer and autumn, they should be fed on 

 green corn, or something else raised for the purpose. 



Much attention should be paid to feeding cattle in the winter. 

 They should also be well watered, and kept warm. It is better 

 to keep them in the barn for the most part of the time, in ex- 

 treme cold weather, than to leave them out, shivering behind 

 the fence. 



If they are designed for beef in the spring, and are as fleshy 

 in the fall, as they should be, by giving them a few roots, or a 

 little meal, with good hay and careful attention, they can be 

 made good beef A few years ago, I commenced raising ruta 

 baga and beets, for fattening cattle. I had good success, and 

 considered them a profitable crop. Soon, however, they began 

 to depreciate ; tlie ruta baga rotted in the field ; now, I con- 

 sider them an uncertain crop, and have discontinued to culti- 

 vate them. I am also of the opinion, that the profit of fattening 

 cattle in winter is rather small, especially to those farmers who 

 have a market near for their hay. 



In regard to fattening swine, as the potato crop has failed, 1 



