44 



DICKSON ON FLAX SEED FOE CATTLE. 



lying on a layer of straw sprinkled over with its own excre- 

 ments, could thrive as well as if stretched on a clean bed free 

 from noxious gases ; the positive comfort of the animal, let 

 alone the appearance of cleanliness, is a matter of no little 

 importance to a farmer who delights in his profession. 

 Having had an opportunity of seeing cattle shut up as 

 described, I had no desire, from the stench arising from the 

 boxes, to remain long an observer ; for, however useful it may 

 be to keep manure close and allow as little as possible of the 

 gases or ammonia to escape, I need not be told that neither 

 horse nor cow could thrive any better, if at all, by being shut 

 up in such a foul atmosphere. Some people, however, have 

 little regard for cleanliness, their chief aim being to make 

 money by a saving of labour, as there will be less work by 

 only occasionally cleaning out the boxes, than if they were to 

 be done every morning ; so that the filthy, or lazy system of 

 box feeding, is, in my opinion, likely to be prefered by the 

 slovenly only. 



I observe that as food for calves, Flax seed boiled and mixed 

 with hay tea, is one of the very best substitutes for milk that 

 has been discovered. A compound should be made from this 

 tea mixture and skimmed milk, with the addition of bean or 

 pea meal boiled as light as thin porridge ; and to prevent the 

 mixture from disagreeing with the young animals, which a 

 sudden change of food is certain to do, the quantity of milk 

 should be decreased, and the tea from the Flax seed and hay 

 gradually increased. The economy and the good results of this 

 course of feeding, will soon prove to the satisfaction of the 

 farmer that he has found out a desirable mode of economizing 

 milk, by the gain of a substitute in Flax seed. 



