CHAP. vi. FEEDING OF CALVES. 127 



be given to the animal. After a short time the quantity of pul- 

 verised oil-cake may be increased. This method is said to have been 

 advantageously adopted. Lord Egremont used linseed-jelly in the 

 proportion of one pint to a gallon of skim-milk, without treacle, 

 but it did not answer." 



Mr. Beamish adopted the following plan as a substitute for milk in 

 the rearing of calves : 



Thirty quarts of boiling water are poured on three quarts of linseed- 

 meal and four quarts of bean-meal, all then close covered up ; and, at 

 the end of 24 hours, added to 31 other quarts of boiling water then on 

 the fire, being poured in slowty to prevent lumps, and being well 

 stirred with a small, flat, shovel-shaped board, perforated with holes, 

 to produce thorough incorporation. After 30 minutes' boiling and 

 stirring, the mucilage is put by for use, to be given blood-warm to the 

 calves as soon as they are three days old ; first in equal portions with 

 new milk, increasing gradually to two-thirds, as the calf gets older, 

 substituting skim-milk after a month, and feeding on mucilage alone 

 after six weeks. This mode of feeding will be as follows, viz. : 



New milk Skim milk Mucilage Total per Week 



Weeks Quarts Quarts Quarts Quarts 



1st 22 10 32 



2nd 

 3rd 

 4th 

 5th 

 6th 

 7th to 15th 



21 ... 21 42 



20 ... '29 49 



20 ... 36 56 



20 43 63 



20 50 70 



756 756 (9 weeks) 



83 40 945 1068 



The following is from the " Farmer's Magazine," the writer stating 

 that he has reared calves successfully, for many years, on this 

 system : 



" Two gallons of water are made to boil, and then a pint of fine 

 flour is mixed with cold water, sufficient to make it into the consistency 

 of thick cream. This is thoroughly mixed, and put into a bowl capable 

 of holding half a gallon ; a small quantity of hot water introduced into 

 the mixture, and stirred, so as gradually to decrease the temperature 

 of the flour and water in the bowl, will prevent it running into lumps. 

 This is plunged again into boiling water, and stirred until the whole 

 again cools. This coagulates the mass, and forms a thick, nutritious 

 porridge. It is a great advantage if one-sixth part of cold skim- 

 milk is then plunged into the mixture, which not only gets scalded 

 itself, but very materially improves it. Two gallons of the mixture 

 per day will be found generally sufficient." 



An infusion of hay, or sometimes of pea-haulm, called hay-tea or 

 hay-water, has also been used for the purpose of rearing calves with 

 the smallest quantity of milk ; but it is not generally efficacious. In 

 order to make this infusion, such a portion of fine, sweet hay, cut once 

 or twice, is put into a small earthen vessel as will fill it on being 

 lightly pressed with the hand. The vessel is then filled with boiling 



