especially in Surrey and Sussex. 
161 
given over, and there are not many districts that could turn out the numher of 
fine and even high-pedigreed Shorthorns that Tyne can do yet. On this farm 
— about 500 acres arable, and 60 of old grass — I feed annually about 80 cattle on 
turnips ; one-half Shorthorns and crosses reared on the place, and the remainder 
Irish heifers bought in during the summer, in July and August. Sometimes 
a few of these turn out in-calf, of which more anon. Eight milch-cows are 
kept, and two sets of calves reared ; one dozen early ones, and another lot later 
on, when the first can do with gruel and skimmed milk. They get new milk 
for one month, then half new and half old, with linseed-gruel for another 
month or more, if milk can be spared ; and then the later lot get all the 
skimmed milk till harvest, which helps them up with the older ones to make 
a more level lot. During the summer they graze in a small paddock, and 
have a shed to go into. When still very young they arc trained to eat a 
handful of oilcake and crushed oats, and often, though not always, they get 
a serving or two per diem of cut grass or tares. As autumn advances the 
allowance of cake is gradually increased to 2 lbs. each, and when the nights 
begin to get chilly a little meadow-hay is put into their racks at nightfall. 
The first winter they are allowed two small feeds of white or yellow turnips 
per diem (not nearly so many as they could eat), 3 lbs. of oilcake, which keeps 
the blood healthy and prevents quarter-ill, and as much oat-straw or chaff as 
they can consume, but none to waste. During summer they are grazed among 
the sheep, and are brought into the yards and boxes in the latter part of 
October in good holding condition. For the first fortnight a few turnips with 
the leaves on are spread about the pastures, and, if at all conveniently near 
the steading, the cattle are brought into the courts at night and get a fill of 
oat-straw and a warm bed. The turnips are given sparingly at first, for fear 
of scouring ; the bite of grass in the field by day and the oat-straw at night « 
in the fold both help to tide them early over the change of food. Before 
Martinmas they are fairly housed for the winter ; the home-bred stirks being 
acquainted and quiet with each other in the folds, and the strangers in the 
boxes. Very often the bullies and simpletons have to be withdrawn from the 
folds, and accommodated with single boxes also. As long as the white and 
I yellow turnips last, generally up to the new year, 4 lbs. of cotton-cake is 
allowed, and after that 6 lbs. of a mixture of oilcake, crushed beans, light 
barley, &c., with three moderate feeds of swedes, and two fodderings of oat- 
'I straw or barley-chaff per diem. One great point is never to allow the stirks 
to lose their calf-lyre, and keep them steadily growing and improving ; if this 
be done, there is not the slightest difficulty in bringing them out on an average 
60 stones weight (of 14 lbs.) at 22 to 24 months old in April and May. There 
are always a few Irish heifers turn out in-calf. These suckle their own calves 
for a month or five weeks, and can generally make them worth Zl. to 3?. 10s., 
which sum will procure a good Shorthorn calf, two to three weeks old. With 
very little trouble the cow accepts her changeling, and if it has fortunately 
happened that she has calved early, and this is all managed before May-day 
in the house, then they are ready to go out when the grass comes, and the 
handling tames and quiets the calf, so that it does not turn out the ' wild 
runner ' of former times. They are grazed on old grass, and get 4 lbs. of 
cotton-cake each day. The calves suck till February, and last year were sold 
in May, 13 months old, at 24?., and the dams at 211. Taking into conside- 
ration the little keep required for the calf the first six months, it will be seen 
that no system of feeding pays better than this ; but it can only be followed 
out to a limited extent. A few years ago I turned out a half-bred Irish calf, 
which sucked 12 months, at 19 months old, 72 stones (of 14 lbs.) weight, and 
the beef was most beautil'ul, not at all vealy, as some might suppose. This is 
only plain ordinary management ; I could not pretend to calculate quantities 
of food and value thereof." 
VOL. XIV. — S. S. M 
II 
