482 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
cutter, the same as for sheep. He did not like pulping ; and pre- 
ferred feeding twice a-day to three times, beeause the animals come 
to the trough with a better appetite, and between the periods of 
feeding were induced to consume a larger quantity of straw than if 
they were fed oftener. He also objected to cutting into chaff so 
low-priced a commodity as straw ; it did not pay for the cutting. 
With reference to the second division of his subject, there was no 
question that an animal would make a much laiger amount of meat 
from the material it consumed if it could lie down comfortably ; and 
he contended that a well-managed box, carefully littered with straw, 
as cleanliness dictated, was the best accommodation it could have. 
An animal which lay upon boards must lie in a distressed and 
unnatural condition ; but one that lay upon earth lay comfortably ; 
and his experience led him to prefer an earthen to a wooden tloor. 
In regard to the value of the manure, he believed it could not be 
obtained at anything like the same cost by any other system as by 
box-feeding. It accumulated rapidly ; and at the same time every 
atom, both liquid and solid, was preserved in the best possible form. 
As to the 'health and well-doing of the animals, during the three 
years in which he had been carrying on his system of feeding, he 
had never lost a single animal, or had one out of health, of any age, 
though when he used to feed on hay his bullocks were constantly 
out of health, and some days their stomachs were so clogged and 
cloyed that they -would not eat a bit of cake. The quantity of straw 
for litter should not be less than 20 lbs. a-day, which would give a 
ton of dung per month. 
Lord Powi« (the Chairman) remarked, with reference to the plan 
of the buildings, that some sites might not be sufiBciently level to 
admit of the erection of such a large mass of continuous build- 
ings, but the lines and subdivisions on the plan seemed to indicate 
that to meet such a difficulty the buildings might be arranged in 
greater lengths and shorter depths. 
Mr. Ei.LiOT thereon pointed out that the plan naturally divided 
itself into three sections, and would therefore suit ground of any 
levels. 
Mr. Blundell considered the whole range to be but an aggregate 
of distinct areas, each of 12 feet square. 
Lord Powis also pointed out that the multiplication of short spans 
in the roofs, so as to dispense Avith the use of large timber, is woi thy 
of attention, especially in localities where timber, being scarce, has 
to be brought from a considerable distance. If the meeting of the 
roofs over a spout were sufficiently water-tight in stormy weather 
and at all seasons of the year, it certainly would be extremely 
useful, and would get rid of the difficulties which are generally 
attendant on the ordinary valleys between two sets of buildings, 
from the expense caused by the use of great quantities of lead, and 
the danger of leakage, when through neglect or carelessness the lead 
is insufficient. 
Mr. Si'OOXKR said that, having had frequent opportunities of wit- 
nessing the manner in which Mr. Blundell treated his cattle, he 
