CHAP. xr. FOODS USED IN STALL-FEEDING. 173 



extent of ground required to supply this lot with grass, part of which 

 was cut twice, and part three times, was 1 acre 2 roods 35j poles. 



" The third lot of four were also tied up (two and two) in stalls, and 

 received as much of the same description of rye and clover grass cut 

 green as they could eat, with a like supply of water and litter. 

 They were also curried once a day, and, in addition to the cut grass, 

 each of the cattle composing this lot received daily a small allowance, 

 by measure, of bruised oil-cake, and of bruised linseed and light oats. 

 The extent of ground required to supply this lot with green provender, 

 during the period of the experiment, was 1 acre 2 roods 35 J poles. 



" All three lots throve exceedingly well, but it soon became apparent 

 that the lot receiving the oil-cake and bruised linseed and oats, were 

 advancing before the other two lots, although it was doubtful so much 

 as to justify the expense of this food. The progress of the first and 

 second lots seemed so equal during the period of the experiment, that 

 no two judges who saw them could agree as to which lot had the 

 advantage of the other ; but the third lot continued to maintain its 

 superiority during the whole period of the experiment. 



" It thus appears that there was a gain on the 1 lot fed in the house 

 on cut grass alone, over the lot pastured in the fields, of 3Z. 16s. Sd., 

 and that on the lot which received the addition of oil-cake and crushed 

 linseed and light oats, there was a gain over those pastured in the 

 field of no less a sum than 81. 8s. %d., and over the lot fed in the 

 house on cut grass alone, of 41. 11s. 6d., proving beyond a doubt that 

 high house-feeding is the most remunerative to the farmer. 



" It may be proper to add that as the whole grass on the farm had 

 been pastured by sheep during the winter, and till far into spring, and 

 very closely eaten, it was later in the season before it could be either 

 pastured by cattle or cut for soiling than otherwise it would have 

 been." 



There is one circumstance, however, that should never be forgotten 

 by the farmer that, valuable as stall-feeding is, it will not suit all 

 cattle, and particularly lean cattle. The stall-feeding system should 

 not commence until the animal is half or three parts fat. The grass 

 will seldom carry him farther, and the season is approaching in which 

 he would necessarily decline. 



Stall-feeding, then, usually commences about the end of October, and 

 lasts nearly seven months, or until the commencement of May. Of all 

 vegetable productions good hay is undoubtedly the best for fattening 

 cattle ; yet, except on the most luxuriant soil, a sufficiency of it can 

 rarely be obtained for finishing them off for the market ; hence it 

 becomes necessary to have recourse to other things in combination with 

 it, as cabbages, carrots, parsnips, turnips, or other succulent plants, or 

 oilcake. Barley, rye, oat or pea-meal, if mixed together, in about equal 

 proportions, with the occasional addition of a small quantity of bean- 

 meal, may likewise be given with advantage, if the price will admit of 

 it, in the ratio of a quarter, or at most half a peck, to the beast, in con- 

 j unction with cut hay. Of the last-mentioned article it may be observed, 



