298 THE DAILY LIFE OF OFR FARM. 



(only a proportion), as they lose the relish, and cattle 

 prefer them from the field ; but I require a proportion 

 of them for calving cows in frost. Frosted turnips make 

 cows with calf abort ; and rather than give calving cows 

 such turnips, I would order them straw and water." 

 This I can endorse as regards sheep too. A few frosted 

 turnips (it was fancied the frost was out of them) were 

 thrown to a ewe flock the other day. During the night 

 one threw her lamb, and had to be removed. The fact is, 

 they gripe, and the consequent straining forces out the 

 foetus prematurely. " However faithful in other respects, 

 the cattle-men must have a taste and a strong liking to 

 cattle : they must be their hobby." " Even with men of 

 the greatest experience, the difference in the thriving 

 of the different lots upon the same keep is great. They 

 must not be oppressed with having too many in charge, 

 or the owner will suffer by his ill-judged parsimony. 

 From August till November, a man may take care of 

 thirty cattle very well, or a few more, if the cattle are 

 tied ; but when the day gets short, twenty to twenty-five 

 are as many as one man can feed, to do them justice. 

 Good cattle-men are invaluable. They must not only 

 know what to give the cattle, but the great secret, espe- 

 cially when cattle are forced up for show purposes, is to 

 know wliat not to give them.'' " When improperly 

 treated " (through having too much turnips injudiciously 

 given), " the cattle scour and hove, the stomach getting 

 deranged. It is a long time before they recover, and 

 some never do well. We generally cure hove by repeated 

 doses of salt, sulphur, and ginger." 



" The cattle intended for the great Christmas market" 

 (on swedes since October) " have at first 2 lb. to 4 lb. of 

 cake a day by the 1st of November. In a week or two I 



