210 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



two houses recently built. They were fed in wooden troughs, eighteen 

 inches wide by twelve inches deep, with a mixture of grated turnips 

 and straw chaff, in the proportion of 90 Ib. of the former to 7 lb. of the 

 latter, mixed in the following manner : The grated turnips (swedes) 

 are intimately mixed with the chaff in a bin sufficiently large to suppty 

 the cattle with one day's food. These ingredients are allowed to remain 

 in the bin three days, during which time fermentation and heat are 

 produced on the mass, sufficient to cook the whole, as if it had been 

 submitted to the power of steam. We observed that an odour is 

 emitted, during the fermentation, similar to fresh brewer's grains, 

 evidently the consequence of the saccharine matter evolved from the 

 roots and chaff. There were three bins constantly at work in this 

 manner, so as to afford a regular daily supply. 97 lb. of this mixture is 

 given to each animal, and 4 lb. of linseed-cake per day, in the following 

 manner : 1st feed, 6 o'clock A.M., mixture of chaff and turnips ; 2nd 

 feed, 9 o'clock A.M., mixture of chaff and turnips ; 3rd feed, 12 o'clock 

 noon, 4 lb. of cake ; 4th feed, 1 o'clock P.M., mixture ; 5th feed, 

 4 o'clock P.M., mixture. In addition to this, about 3 lb. of dry chaff is 

 given during the evening. The cattle are exceedingly fond of this 

 mixture ; so much so that there has been some difficulty experienced in 

 getting them to eat the linseed-cake. In ordinary feeding with turnips, 

 it is always observed that cattle will consume the cake in preference to 

 roots ; but not so in this case, as the mixture is preferred to the cake. 



" The cost of feeding cattle in this manner was estimated by Mr. 

 Tresawna, Mr. Trethewy, Mr. H. Croggan, and Mr. Whitford (who 

 accompanied me on my first visit to Polsue farm), at six shillings per 

 week, which includes turnips, chaff, and oil-cake. This system of 

 feeding evidentl} 7 agreed with them in a remarkable manner, as the 

 whole number were in an exceedingly good, thriving condition. They 

 were purchased thirteen weeks since at the Truro fair, placed in the 

 boxes on this system of feeding eleven weeks. We find they cost on 

 an average 171. each, total 544L, and were at the present date all fit for 

 the butcher, averaging, according to Mr. John Kendall's valuation, 

 7|- cwt. each, which, at the present price of beef, say three guineas per 

 cwt., would produce 23L lls. each total 752Z. Deducting the cost of 

 keep at six shillings per week, 105L 12s., from the present value, it 

 would leave a clear profit of 102Z. 8s., or 21. 4s. per bullock in eleven 

 weeks, and this, too, exclusive of the valuable rich manure manufac- 

 tured in the boxes. Some idea may be formed of the value of the 

 manure. Each box was 8 ft. square ; the dung ^was allowed to 

 accumulate in the box for two months ; and on its removal, some 

 three weeks since, each box averaged six loads of rich well-made 

 manure, containing all the elements necessary for the healthy and 

 luxuriant growth of all the different cultivated plants on a farm." 



Lord Kinnaird instituted a most elaborate set of experiments to 

 ascertain the advantages of pulping roots, which, although not very 

 conclusive, showed a saving of roots and an increase of weight by the 

 use of pulped roots. 



Since the date of the detailed experiments above alluded to in the 



