FOOD 205 



closely, and if the pasture be suspected an allowance of dry 

 food must be made. 



We have previously alluded to the frequency of tym- 

 panites among cattle turned out to graze for the first time. 

 The best way to prevent this is to begin by only turning 

 them out for a short time, or by feeding the animals before 

 they are turned out, which may prevent them from eating 

 to excess. Clover fields are particularly dangerous, and 

 cattle turned on to these should be watched, so as to keep 

 them on the move and not allow them to gorge them- 

 selves. 



Pastures in England are ready for stock about the end 

 of April or even earlier ; in Scotland it is later, not before 

 the middle of May, and the grazing season is shorter 

 seldom extending beyond the month of September. The 

 system pursued in Scotland is also different, as old 

 pasture lands do not exist owing to the area under cultiva- 

 tion ; the pasturage principally consists of cultivated grasses 

 and clover, and on this the young and fattening stock is 

 placed. 



Soiling. 



Agriculturists are now looking with some favour on the 

 system of ' soiling ' as applied to cattle ; it has been for 

 many years used for cattle in Scotland and for horses in 

 England, especially for hunters thrown out of work after 

 the season. It is urged that by ' soiling ' cattle instead of 

 grazing them, viz. by mowing the grass and feeding the 

 animals in sheds or enclosures, twice as many stock may 

 be fed on a given space. The reasons of this are that 

 there is less damage done to the pastures as there is 

 no treading down and close feeding; further, the cattle 

 through freedom from disturbance, shelter in the event of 

 bad weather, and the saving of labour in collecting their 

 own food, require less than when fattened in the usual 

 manner. 



It is also argued that the manure from them is more 

 valuable than when simply dropped about the field; finally, 



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