172 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



Mr. Gilbert Murray, writing (1890) in the "Journal of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society," as to his practice in Derbyshire, says: 



" For rearing and fattening cattle we prefer well-arranged covered 

 sheds and yards on the North-country haramel system. We have only 

 a wall on one side, and two gable-ends, whilst a feeding-passage 

 extends the whole length of the building : this secures a great 

 economy of labour, and saves the cattle from disturbance. The sheds 

 and yards are divided and enclosed by ordinary iron gas-pipe varying 

 in diameter from f in. to 1| in. ; these pipes are passed through iron 

 standards securely bolted to stone blocks placed 9 feet apart. The 

 eaves of all buildings are spouted, and the rain-water is conducted to 

 a well. The manure is not removed more than twice a year ; the 

 litter absorbs the urine, and, if the rain-water is excluded, under 

 drains are not necessary. Contrary to the opinion of those unaccus- 

 tomed to covered yards, the manure comes out in a ripe state ; the 

 constant treading of the cattle solidifies the manure, and prevents 

 excessive fermentation. The winter-made manure comes out when 

 the turnip season arrives, and is in a fit state to apply to the land at a 

 temperature of 70 to 80 F. We look upon this as a considerable 

 advantage, as when taken direct from the yards, and placed in the 

 ridges, it raises the temperature of the soil and hastens the sprouting 

 of the seeds." 



As giving some details of feeding, and as bearing upon the subjects 

 of the pasturing and stall-feeding of cattle, the following, from a 

 Prize Essay by William Adam Eye, of Eanna, Aberdeen, in the 

 " Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland," 

 will be useful : 



" The cattle experimented on were twelve two-year-old queys, 

 crosses between the Aberdeen and short-horned breeds. They were 

 brought in about the middle of June 1851, and after having been kept 

 in the same pasture till July 10, were divided into three lots (four in 

 each lot) of as nearly the same value as possible, by the reporter's 

 farm-overseer and an experienced butcher, both considered good 

 judges. 



" The first lot of four were pastured out of doors, in a field of 

 excellent first year's grass, consisting of rye-grass and clover, but 

 principally of red clover. The part of the field railed off for this lot 

 consisted of 3 acres 2 roods 6 poles. It was well sheltered on the 

 north and north-east by a belt of thriving wood, and had in it an 

 abundant supply of good spring- water. It had been well laid down 

 after turnips, and afforded a good supply of food for the lot put upon 

 it up to October 12, 1851, when they were removed and very soon 

 after sold, along with the two other lots, to the same butcher. 



" The second lot of four were tied up in stalls (two and two in a 

 stall), and received daily as much of the same description of green 

 cut rye-grass and clover as they could eat during the same period 

 (from July 10 to October 12, 1851). They were regularly fed at 

 stated intervals during the day, and watered once a day, and had an 

 abundant supply of litter. They were also curried once a day. The 



