1038 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK xn. 



tp kind. Keep the houses well aired, but the animals out of draughts. 

 See that the water is abundant and pure, and that all the food 

 vessels are thoroughly clean. Keep the coats of animals free from 

 dried dung, and their skins free from dust and of a healthy delicate 

 red colour, to which end use the currycomb or hard brush and clean 

 dry straw regularly. See that the excretions of the animals are of 

 a healthy character, carefully avoiding all approaches to constipation 

 or irregularity in their voidings. These and other points being at- 

 tended to, stall-fed fattening stock will be as healthy as those pas- 

 tured out. 



AUGUST. 



As pastures are now in many districts short of grass, either from 

 being overstocked, or from becoming dried and parched through lack 

 of rain, the short supplies of herbage must be supplemented by those 

 obtained from the land which the prudent cultivator will have devoted 

 to the growth of forage crops. The greater the variety of these, the 

 more probable will be the success of the crops as a whole, and the wider 

 the variations which may be made in the feeding. These advantages 

 will be perhaps better appreciated in the case of stall-fed or soiled 

 fattening cattle than in that of stock pastured in outlying fields, 

 although in the latter they will often in certain seasons be found of 

 great value. In pasture fields give the cut food in mangers or troughs, 

 or in the cribs of the shelter-sheds which should be provided. For 

 notes on the feeding of all classes of stock pastured out, and on the 

 fattening of stall-fed cattle, see remarks under the two preceding 

 months. Be careful to keep all fences in good repair, or stock will 

 "gad" and break out: this is more necessary now than at any time, for 

 if they get into a field of ripe corn they may eat sufficient to burst them. 

 If by chance they do get into a cornfield they should for a time be 

 kept away from water, and have linseed oil freely administered. 



SEPTEMBER. 



The "hunter's moon," in its occasional nights of "eager and 

 nipping air," gives warning of the approach of the dreary months now 

 near at hand, and of the necessity of bringing young stock and fattening 

 cattle from the pasture into the yards and houses at night. Do this every 

 night rather than run the risk of the animals suffering injury through 

 exposure. In the case of store stock not yet brought in to in-lying 

 pasture fields near the steading, or intended to be wintered in out-lying 

 ones, see that the shelter-sheds are well cleaned out, and bedded down 

 with clean sweet straw. Pastures, having become poor, grass must be 

 supplemented, for all classes of stock pastured out, by cut forage food, 

 and by white or stubble turnips, and cabbages, which ought to be ready 

 by this time. The turnips should be sliced and mixed with the cut 

 green food, or with the straw of the season's cereal crops cut into short 

 lengths. The stock receiving supplies of oil-cake, &c., should have 

 this also mixed with the other food, all of which should be given in the 



