118 ANIMALS AND THEIR PRODUCTS. 



effect, and should intersperse more nutritious food as 

 often at least as is necessary to keep their cattle in a 

 thrifty condition. The eye of an animal, his hair, his 

 motions, his general appearance, all will indicate to 

 the observant feeder whether he is doing well. If 

 not, a change must be made. There is no profit in 

 keeping miserable, pinched-up, shrivelled stock ; and 

 certainly, if the owner have a heart in him, there can 

 be no pleasure in it. - 



209. Besides first and second rate hay, almost every 

 farmer is so fortunate, or unfortunate, as to have some 

 that is very poor. He may have cut it late among the 

 bogs of his pasture, or in a swampy part of his mow- 

 ing that he has not yet found time to redeem. This 

 may be turned to account. If he will throw it into 

 his yard at noon in very cold weather, his cattle will 

 eat a large portion of it. It contains carbon, and will 

 at least furnish fuel for their lungs — will help to keep 

 them warm, if nothing more ; and will be converted 

 into manure. 



210. A portion of oat or wheat straw, and of rye 

 straw even, may be made of some use in the same way. 

 Cold, clear, sunny days should be selected as the best 

 for getting rid of the poorest feed. It is observable 

 that cattle will work it down about ''n proportion as 

 they are kept in what some farmers call "good 

 heart," by their morning and evening meals. A 

 steer, for instance, that has a good breakfast and sup- 

 per, will contrive to get down dry straw for his 

 lunch; while one that fares very hard night and 



