On the Cultivation of Flax. 



467 



advantaofe than they ou2:ht from the use of the seed, and he wouhl 

 obtain a comparatively small increase of manure. 



In Belgium, house-feeding is universal ; cattle of any kind are 

 rarely seen in the field : and hence the small Belgian farmer, w 

 verv restricted means, is enabled to raise abundant crops, and to 

 keep the whole of his land under constant cultivation. Without 

 house-feeding this could not be done, for there would not be 

 manure to sustain such a constant course of cropping ; but by 

 feeding his cattle of every description in the house, and carefully 

 preserving every portion of excrem.entitious matter, both liquid 

 and solid, the Belgian farmer obtains a sufficiency of manure for 

 renovating his land, and is thus enabled to obtain a large amount 

 of produce from a very limited extent of surface. 



It would be well if the English farm.er would follow the ex- 

 ample of the Flemish farmer in this respect. I do not mean that 

 the Flemish system, in all its details, should be entirely adopted 

 by us ; for under the circumstances existing in this country, it 

 would probably be found impracticable : but our farmers might 

 certainly feed much more stock than tbey do at present, by 

 adopting house-feeding more extensively, and by the use of lin- 

 seed in combination with grass, turnips, hay, and other substances. 

 This would enable them to fatten more cattle at a less cost, and 

 they would obtam sufficient manure for keeping more land under 

 crop, and would thus secure a greater produce. 



jN'o one will deny that the best mode of feeding is that which 

 fattens quickest and at the least cost, and which gives the largest 

 supply of the best manure ; and in all these respects house- 

 feeding is decidedly to be preferred. If the stalls or boxes are 

 properly prepared, the cattle will be protected from the effects of 

 changes in the atm^osphere, and be kept in a state of repose and 

 comfort ; w hilst in the field they are exposed to sun, wind, and 

 rain, to perpetual torment from flies and insects, and to constant 

 effort and irritation, which greatly retard their fattening, and the 

 manure is nearly or altogether lost. Even in the fold-yard cattle 

 suffer from these causes, although in a less degree ; but in boxes, 

 such as I saw at Trimingham, the animals are protected from 

 every annoyance and make progress accordingly. 



It has been said on good authority, that the grass which would 

 feed one bullock in the field, will feed three if cut and g-iven to 

 the animals in the house. This affords a strong argument in 

 favour of box or stall-feeding generally, and is very important as 

 regards the use of linseed, which requires to be given in com- 

 bination with grass and other substances ; and this can be done, 

 as before stated, with the greatest advantage in the house. 



