Illustrations of Irish Farming. 
409 
had been bought in October, as already mentioned. The calves 
reared on the farm are well fed from the first, and are sold out 
fat when 2^ yeais old ; the liberal way in which they are reared, 
as well as their improved breeding being in their favour. The 
purchased bullocks pay 20^. a month from the time they are 
bought until they leave the farm fat ; that is, altogether, a return 
of 15/. to 16Z. each for their keep, and with this Mr. Simson is 
quite satisfied. He does not, however, attach so much value to 
cattle as farm-stock as he does to sheep, which he finds more 
profitable; but the cattle utilise the straw, and make- a large 
quantity of manure. 
Stall-fed cattle have sometimes insects upon them, which 
gather along the back and about the tail. To prevent this, the 
fattening cattle which are tied up are curried once every day ; 
and in the event of any insects appearing, the parts most liable 
to be affected are dressed with the ordinary sheep dressing, which 
consists of a mixture of tobacco water, spirit of tar, and soft 
soap. 
The accommodation for the fattening bullocks consists both of 
cattle-houses (byres) and boxes. There are two of the former, 
which accommodate fifty bullocks between them. A man at- 
tends each byre, and feeds and curries the cattle. The cattle 
have the turnips cut for them, which is done by means of the 
ordinary hand-slicer as required ; this keeps the turnips fresh, 
and avoids loss of the natural moisture of the roots. 
There are 45 double boxes, under a continued line of roofed 
sheds. The back wall is built close up to the wall-plate, but 
the front is open, and the under portion sparred. The boxes 
are separated by partition walls, which, with the back wall, are 
all built of plain masonry ; and the size of each box is 18 feet 
by 14 feet. These double boxes are divided by moveable sparred 
partitions, so that each animal stands by itself, although there 
are two in the box. A trough for turnips is placed at the front 
of the box, and there is another trough at the back to hold 
meal and cake. The boxes are sunk 2 feet below the level of 
the ground, and are emptied every third month, so that the 
animals are only disturbed once during the period they occupy 
the boxes. Fresh straw is supplied as litter every day, the dung 
is firmly tramped down, and there is not the slightest smell 
from it. The plan adopted in constructing these boxes secures 
both warmth and abundance of fresh air, and the cattle thrive 
well in them. 
Swine do not form a leading feature among the live-stock 
kept at Cloona Castle. Those which are kept, however, are 
Berkshires, direct from Lord Clermont's styes. 
It will be observed that Mr. Simson sends to market a large 
