GENERAL CARE OF CATTLE. 317 



rarely needs any special attention after he has 

 once had a good tug at his mother's teats, and 

 thenceforth can take care of his own food sup- 

 plies if only given free access to his dam ; and 

 it is very important that this free access should 

 be given. "The child is father to the man" is 

 one of the most hackneyed of all popular say- 

 ings; and the very fact that it is so hackneyed 

 is the best evidence of the general approval 

 which all men give to the sentiment which it 

 embodies. So true is it that it not only applies 

 to man but to all nature. "As the twig is bent 

 so will the tree incline/' is its exact analogue 

 in the vegetable kingdom. In fine, as the 

 young animal or plant is treated the mature 

 organism will be moulded. The young animal 

 that is placed in our hands may be said to con- 

 tain in potential all the qualities of the mature 

 animal. These qualities may be fostered and 

 developed, or they may be stunted, hindered 

 in their expansion, even atrophied by neglect. 

 It becomes a question, then, at the very outset, 

 whether the calf is the main consideration with 

 the breeder, or whether there is some ulterior 

 consideration more important to him which 

 shall dominate and control his treatment of 

 the calf. If the calf gets all the milk he can 

 drink straight from his dam, and his dam is a 

 good milker, the chances are he will thrive and 

 grow and do well. Unless this is the case the 



