THE DAILY LIFE OF OUE FAEM. 99 



to make hay, let it be done properly, as all things 

 should be done, in their turn and place. But as for his 

 comparison to straw, I would it might prove no worse ! 

 Why, cut wheat-straw, mixed with pulped roots, and 

 left to stand awhile, is as good provender as can be — 

 super-excellent, in fact, if sprinkled with meal and a 

 wholesome flavouring of salt. 



Straw, indeed ! Our youthful adviser can never have 

 read old Drury's interesting volume, in which he shows 

 how, if you steep chopped wheaten straw in cold water 

 for some hours, it will form a jelly, which, mixed with 

 meal, is most nutritious. " Anything that makes a 

 jelly is good," how often have I heard from the lips 

 of a capital feeder ! Don't abuse the straw, then ; 

 and what's more, save it a little more rigorously in 

 your foldyard. 



By the way, as regards this, let me give you a 

 wrinkle which we accidentally obtained, but which 

 may be deemed serviceable, having met with the de- 

 cided approbation of more than one distinguished 

 agriculturist who have lately done us the honour of 

 inspecting our stock. 



All around our cattle-yard we have an open shed ; 

 but, from shortness of material and hurry, we were 

 enabled to put a manger along one side only. The 

 consequence of this is that on three sides there is 

 always a dry lair. The cattle get a habit of standing 

 about and trampling near the manger, which soon 

 reduces the ^^bedding beside it, [however often fresh- 

 laid, to a wet mess ; whereas in our yard, by this acci- 

 dental arrangement, the straw upon three sides lasts 

 clean and dry a week. 



To return, however. It is certain enough that hay 



