Breeding, Rearing, and Feeding Horses, Cattle, and Sheep. 23 
11. BOEDLANDS, NoBLEHOOSE, N.B. 
In tlie Lothians corn-growing is likely to continue the principal object with 
the farmer. If corn-giowiug won't pay there, it won't pay in Scotland at all. 
I used to graze two-thirds of my grass at Fenton Barns a second year, but 
this was for more easily obtaining potato crops or larger grain crops. I used 
to find it pay me very well to rear a score of calves there. I know one farmer 
who used to rear every year from 25 to 35 calves who has given it over ; 
but I think this has been owing to the purchase of some inferior-bred ones, 
and the bringing up of more calves than there was milk for. Unless a calf is 
by a thoroughbred bull it will not pay to rear it in the Lothians. On the 
whole, the Lothians are better adapted for feeding stock than rearing them. 
The greater part of the kingdom grows more grass per acre ; though, from the 
smaller rainfall in the Lothians, the animals there put on more flesh in a 
shorter time. I believe, at present prices, it will pay to rear work-horses any- 
where. I used to breed 2 or 3 every year to keep up my own stocking, as I 
considered them more healthy than those purchased. I had at one time a 
100-acre park of inferior land in grass, enclosed with a good stone wall, where 
I reared horses with pleasure, as they ran there the whole season ; but at 
Fenton Barns I found it difficult to prevent yearling or two-year-old colts 
from breaking the fences and trampling the corn. I believe that if there was 
a well-fenced field laid off iu permanent pasture on every farm, it would 
greatly encourage the breeding of horses, and otherwise pay the farmer. 
Geokge Hope. 
12. Elvaston Estate Office, Derby. 
Not only on isolated farms, but throughout wide districts, an increased 
number of stock could be profitably raised, the particular kinds of which 
would depend, to a great extent, on the nature of the soil and the climate, 
and whether grass or tillage predominate, or the occupations are of a mixed 
character. 
On all large arable farms under a regular rotation of crops, and where the 
area of permanent pasture is limited in extent — even at present prices, when 
good draught-horses are at a premium of 150 per cent, on the average prices 
of recent years — it is more economical to purchase than to breed the necessary 
supply. On farms of this character the whole of the available horse-power is 
called into requisition during the months of March and April in preparing 
the land and completing the spring seeding. The two following months 
demand equal exertions in preparing for the root-crops. In- foal mares suffer no 
injury, but are rather benefited by being worked up to the day of foaling, 
provided they are always kept at plough or in chains, carefully handled, and 
not over-driven. The negligence of a careless servant, or the act of a driving 
master, anxious to take advantage of a favourable season, often endangers 
both the mother and the progeny. I have frequently known mares to cast 
their foals from over-work. Assuming that parturition has been safely ac- 
complished, in about a week or ten days afterwards the mare is again put 
regularly to work. During working-hours the foal is shut up in the farmyard. 
In many localities the practice still lingers of taking only one yoking a day ; in 
this case the young growing animal has to endure a fast of seven or eight hours' 
duration. The mother returns often in a profuse state of perspiration — the 
effects of fretting, caused by separation from her foal, and the suffering en- 
tailed by the retention of the milk for a lengthened period. Picture the effect 
of such a system on the health of the mother and the growth and develop- 
ment of the progeny. Steam is rapidly superseding horse-power, and 
