On Drawing Turnips, 



163 



the appetite^ are both stimulated by a well-judged variety. To 

 this consideration may be added, also, the great advantage of shel- 

 tering animals from the changes and severity of the weather. Ex- 

 cessive cold not only prevents the growth and improvement of 

 stock, but stints them also as to size. An animal suffering from 

 cold, and shivering beneath the fence, will derive but little improve- 

 ment from its food. There is probably a proper medium of atmo- 

 spheric temperature, equally removed from excessive heat and 

 extreme cold, which is required for the bringing out of the most 

 perfect growth of animals.* The black cattle of the North are far 

 below the size and quality of our Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and 

 Herefordshire stock. By analogy, therefore, it may be concluded 

 that a suitable degree of warmth is beneficial to the growth 

 as well as to the size of animals. Considered in this respect 

 alone, providing that the food were precisely the same, the 

 warmth and comfort which animals enjoy in the fold-yard, shel- 

 tered from the cold blast, must have a favourable effect on their 

 thriving and growth. But when to this fact is added, also, the 

 consideration that not only have stock in the yard a suitable degree 

 of warmth, but that they have also a variety of food and a regular 

 supply of it, under a daily and hourly inspection of the superin- 

 tendent — these advantages will conduce to the thriving of stock, in 

 a far greater degree than could be experienced were they exposed 

 to the severity of the winter in the field, and supported only by 

 one description of food. 



With regard to the next subject for investigation, namely, the 

 comparative quantity and quality of the manure in either of the 

 above modes," it will be admitted, that, in proportion as the 

 animal is in a thriving condition, the manure will be of a propor- 

 tionably valuable quality. On this account it is that some feeders 

 find the advantage of feeding for the market by meal, cake, turnips, 

 &c., as much by the increased power and value of the manure, as 

 by the profit in price, when cost, labour, expence, and risk, are all 

 taken into account. Turnips being applied to the feeding of 

 stock only as a winter crop, they can only serve the purpose of 

 food during that season; besides which, also, as it regards stock, 

 they are an artificial food, and being thus sustained exclusively by 

 food, which is neither the most natural nor the most congenial, 

 the manure, under such circumstances, will therefore be inferior 

 and of but little value. Besides which, it will be applied by ac- 

 cident — without care, or design, or proper direction. Too much 

 under the fence — too little in the centre of the field — some parts 



* The author is mistaken in saying that the black cattle of the North 

 are inferior to the larger breeds in quality. They are smaller, but the qua- 

 lity of their meat is considered in the London markets better than that of 

 any other sort. — Spencer. 



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