386 CATTLE-BREEDING. 



sought is to keep the stock in good condition, 

 and hence all specially stimulating, heating, 

 and fat-producing food should be avoided so 

 far as possible. 



The great problems of feeding are connected 

 with the fattening of market cattle, and, inter- 

 esting as they are, lie beyond the proper pur- 

 view of this work. The fat-stock shows have 

 thrown a flood of light on these matters, and 

 it is perhaps not too much to hope that the 

 day is not far distant when more systematized 

 and scientific, and consequently more econom- 

 ical, methods of feeding will generally prevail. 

 What the practical breeder most needs to learn 

 as to feeding may be summed up in two words: 

 liberality and self-restraint. No man can ever 

 afford to stint his stock, nor yet to overfeed 

 them. Our cattle must have a liberal amount 

 of good, wholesome food, fed with regularity. 

 They want, on the other hand, just as little 

 pampering as possible. Liberality does not 

 mean wastefulness. Thorough-paced economy 

 is not only consistent with it, it is even its 

 twin virtue. Nor yet does self-restraint mean 

 niggardliness. It is no doubt true that the 

 middle road is ill-defined. It is quite as true 

 that it is the best road. It takes patient study, 

 watchfulness and work to keep to it. But then 

 cattle-feeding is a practical man's occupation, 

 not a holiday recreation. 



