304 



On the Farming of Suffolk. 



loose throughout the day, the cattle are usually tied up to the 

 troua^h w^hile eating their bait of meal or oil- cake. 



Mr. Edwards, of Wickham Skeith, as well as some other 

 farmers, fats bullocks and hogs in the same yard — a small 

 place being partitioned off for the hogs to go under and feed. 

 The bullocks do not appear to be at all disturbed by the 

 pigs, nor the pigs inconvenienced by the bullocks. This is 

 • perhaps one advantage that hornless breeds have over others for 

 fatting in yards, for they are generally more peaceable among them- 

 selves and also with other animals. The advantages of having 

 pigs kept with bullocks are that no loss of food is sustained, for 

 they not only eat the food thrown down by the cattle, but also 

 (particularly if the cattle are corn or cake fed) in a great measure 

 consume that which has already passed through the cattle. It is 

 thus exposed to the digestive organs of two distinct kinds of ani- 

 mals ; and we may take it for granted that all the fat or flesh 

 forming principles are by that means extracted. The routing of 

 the pigs in the litter shortens the manure^ and they also increase 

 its value by the mixture of different excrements. 



Farm Horses. — The manner of stabling horses is very different 

 from lhatof other parts of the country; the horses are merely baited 

 in the stables with oats or beans (crushed) mixed with wheat and 

 barley chaff or cut hay, and in the night are turned out into yards to 

 which a good open shed is attached — in this are troughs and 

 racks filled in winter with hay or fresh barley-straw. In summer 

 the system is that of soiling in the yards, principally with tares, 

 though lucerne, clover, Italian rye -grass, and common meadow- 

 grass are also given. Some are still in the habit of turning their 

 horses out to collect their own food ; the disadvantage of the 

 latter plan is obvious enough — it occasions a waste of food, and a 

 horse does not require exercise after a hard day's work. Much 

 may be said on both sides in favour of yard or stable manage- 

 ment ; however, the Suffolk horses turned out into yards through- 

 out the year are not exposed to extremes of heat and cold, seldom 

 suffer from grease, and are I believe more free from disease than 

 those kept entirely in stables. 



Sheep. — The greater part of the heavy land of Suffolk is not suited 

 to folding sheep, though fatting and breeding sheep are kept by 

 some farmers. Earth-drains are liable to be injured in the 

 common method of hurdling by the shepherd striking his fold- 

 drift into the drains ; consequently hurdles on wheels or feet, 

 either of wood or iron, are used by many : these appear equally 

 adapted for light-land folding. 



Mr. Harvey Denny, of Mendham, Suffolk, has had a fold of 

 this description in use for fourteen years, and the hurdles are 

 now in very good repair. Mr. Denny's hurdles, of which I have 



