482 0)1 Box-feeding with Linseed Compounds, 



The gfrass, clover, hay, and straw, must all be cut into chaff by 

 the chafF-cutting machine ; and the linseed mucilage is to be 

 prepared by stirring the meal into the requisite quantity of 

 boiling water, at the rate of a pound of meal to a gallon of water : 

 or, in a larger way, at the rate of a pailful of the meal for every 

 six pailsful of water. In a few minutes the mucilage will be 

 formed, and a large tub being placed ready, a quantity of the 

 chaff is put into it, and the linseed mucilage is then ladled over 

 it, stirring and turning it quickly with a fork at the time. Then 

 add more chaff and more mucilage, continuing to stir it as before, 

 and ramming it down until the whole is mixed and formed into a 

 compact mass. It must then be covered over close until it 

 becomes partially cooked by its own heat, and when sufficiently 

 cool it may be given to the cattle ; if allowed to stand too long it 

 is apt to turn sour, which the catde dislike. In winter the 

 animals like their food warm, and it is then probably more easy 

 of digestion and more nourishing. Any kind of chafi' or bran 

 may be added to this compound, or it may be given alternately 

 with the first or the second kinds, at the option of the farmer. 



The quantity of these compounds to be given at one time will 

 depend very much on the size and condition of the animals. It 

 may, however, be laid down as a rule, that every feeding beast 

 should be allowed as much as he can eat without injury to his 

 general health, which must be attended toby the person in charge, 

 and the animal's appearance will immediately indicate if anything 

 is wrong. Another rule is, that the animal should be fed fre- 

 quently, a little at a time, and often, which will prevent his 

 hanging over or nauseating his food, and help materially towards 

 improving his condition. He should also have a little clean 

 straw frequently added to his bedding, which greatly conduces 

 to his comfort ; he will then lie down and ruminate as soon as he 

 has eaten his food, and seldom rise but to eat again. 



A compound, with rather less of the linseed mucilage, may be 

 used with advantage for farm-horses. Mr. Warnes says,* In 



the floor clean after each mixing. In tubs, the compound cannot be tho- 

 roughly mixed without a liberal use of the stirrer and rammer, and whei e 

 there are many cattle, and consequently several tubs, the whole process 

 of putting in successive layers, stirring and ramming, has to be repeated 

 in each. Taking the compound out of the tubs also, after it has been 

 rammed down tight (especially from near the bottom), is tedious com- 

 pared with shovelling it up from a heap on the floor, and each tub must 

 be washed or scraped very clean, otherwise the small fragments remaining 

 turn sour, and give a disagreeable taste to the next mixing. In all the 

 feeding establishments in Yorkshire that I am acquainted with, mixing on 

 the floor is preferred to the use of tubs. H. S. Thompson. 



* See Mr. Warness work on Flax, and the use of the Seed, pages 183 

 and 236. 



