124 



SIR C. BURRELL ON BOX-FEEDING. 



My dear Sir, 



Influenza prevented my attendance at the Stayning Christmas 

 Stock Show, or I intended to have offered some observations upon your 

 system of flax-culture and box-feeding, with my experience of the be- 

 neficial effects thereof. 



I feel it, however, in every way due to your liberal views of benefit- 

 ing the country, and creating extra winter-labour, by the preparation 

 of flax, &c., to place the following statements at your disposal, in cor- 

 roboration of your work of 1846. To ensure precision, my bailiff* has 

 been desired to examine them before being put into the post. 



I also inclose a sketch of my boxes, which you, who know the 

 locality well, will perceive that part having been former buildings, I 

 could not have arranged better. Also a calculation sent me by Mr. 

 Daubuz, of Offington House ; with another from Mr. Alfred Smith, 

 bailiff" to Colonel Wyndham ; by which you will discover that their 

 calculation of time tallies pretty well with mine. 



The general period for fattening beasts on compound, in which they 

 vary (as well as beasts do in taking to oil -cake), is about sixteen weeks, 

 some indeed requiring only thirteen or fourteen. They are liked by the 

 butchers, as generally proving well, and being (as they say) " good 

 cutters." With respect to comparative expense, we are entirely satis- 

 fied that compound is much to be preferred to oil-cake, more especially 

 to foreign cake, such as I once purchased, and but once, for my large 

 (yarded) beasts, and found it full of string, rags, and rubbish. With 

 regard to the health of the animals, I have found them much healthier 

 than my other beasts in yards. This difference I attribute to the 

 greater warmth of the boxes and to the purity of the atmosphere. 

 Neither is the perfect quiet of the boxed beasts, and freedom from 

 interruption, to be overlooked. By treading the litter close, and pre- 

 venting heat, no effluvia arises, except when a box is cleaned out, at 

 the end of several weeks. 



Formerly we seldom fattened bullocks in less than twelve months, 

 thus losing much time in bringing them to profit, and much manure 

 while at pasture. Again, in the yards the manure was subject to rain 

 and snow, being much deteriorated. Whereas, the manure made on 

 your principle is of full double value. On being removed it is fit for 

 immediate use ; or, if not required, becomes available at any time by 

 being incorporated with mould. My heaps are covered over with sea- 

 weed, &c., whenever obtainable, to protect them from drought. I may 

 further add, that since I adopted the box-feeding system, the hay and 

 straw upon my premises have been greatly economised. The reserve of 

 the former was so great that I was able, in 1 845 and 1 846, when hay 

 was in great demand, to sell a hundred loads at a high price. I did 

 this without prejudice, but with advantage, to the land, as I employed 



