150 AGRICULTURE ON THE RHINE. 



of scientific calculation, as will be seen from the follow- 

 ing details. 



Besides the cost of driving the mountain cattle to a 

 distant market, which is saved on the farms that lie near 

 the large towns, the German farmer calculates the gain 

 from the dung of his stall-fed oxen at 3 waggon loads or 

 9 tons annually per beast, with a strictly economical use 

 of straw. In money this quantity of dung may be va- 

 lued at U. 10.9. to 3/., according to the vicinity of the 

 farm to a town, or the nature of the crop to which the 

 manure is applied. 



A draught ox is estimated to consume in 120 d.nys, from 

 the 1st of June to the 30th of September, green clover 

 and meadow hay equivalent to 23 lbs. of hay, with 1 lb. 

 of meal, daily. The winter fodder, 14 lbs. hay, 14 lbs. 

 potatoes, and 8 lbs. cut straw yiCY diem — added to the 

 former is equal to — 



£ s, (I. 

 Annually, 4 tons 11 cwt. hay, at 15.5. per ton 3 7 10 

 Salt, 54 lbs., at M- per lb. '. . . .023 



Cost of cutting straw, clover, &c. . . 5 10 



Straw for litter, 4 lbs. daily, at 6(1. per cwt. .068 

 Wages of 1 man to 24 head of cattle, at 1 2/. 12s. 

 per annum . . . . . . 10 6 



Shoeiug 5 



Wear and tear of buildings, harness, &c. .18 

 "\''eterinary charges . . . . .000 



£G 6 1 



The set-off against this outlay, besides the manure 

 valued as above at 1/. lOs., is, where full work can be 

 had, 250 days' draught, at Is., or 12/. 10s. per annum. In 

 the valley of the Sieg the earaings of an ox may amount 

 to more than this sum ; but the average price of hay in 



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