Grazing Farms. 
295 
summer stock for this field is 220 bullocks, and 200 ewes with 
their lambs, generally here called " couples." It is very curious 
to observe the cattle and sheep over this large inclosure. Herds 
of cattle and flocks of ewes, wliich are purchased from different 
fairs, locate themselves in different parts of the field, retain their 
old companionship, and seldom trespass on their neighbours' 
domain, or stray away from their own part of the ground. The 
greater number of the oxen are Herefords, some Devons, and late 
in the year a few Highland Scots. In consequence of the pro- 
tracted drought last summer, the grass at Creslow was unusually 
short, and the stock did not make anything like their usual pro- 
gress. This fai'm possesses the advantage of having about 100 
acres of it arable, which enables straw and roots to be grown for 
the winter's stock. In the fall of the year, before the cattle are 
tied up, they are supplied with hay in racks, which are placed 
round the ricks in the field. The sheds before Christmas were 
well filled with 50 Herefoi'd oxen, which were receiving hay, a 
bushel of sliced swedes, and 3 or 4 cakes (of 3 lbs. each) daily. 
The grazing land at Putlowes, though of less extent than that 
of Creslow, is decidedly of superior quality, and presents that 
true feature of the feeding district — a rich, deep loam, resting on 
a strong clay. It is really wonderful to see the size and fatness 
of some of the cattle here. In last October there were in one 
field 20 splendid oxen, weighing 160 stone (8 lbs.) eacli, not one 
of which had received hay or oil-cake. Now, in selecting these 
animals, care must be taken to choose those which show an apti- 
tude to fatten and have sufficient age to accumulate flesh quickly. 
This most successful grazier, in common with all those who are 
engaged in feeding cattle, is sadly puzzled to find oxen of a 
proper age to feed ; for, while lots of fleshy steers are to be had 
everywhere, great good bullocks are not to be found, and the 
steers will not increase in weight and value in a given time, like 
the 4-year-old oxen. Large grazing fields appear to be liked, if 
the land is really good and water plentiful. At Putlowes there 
is a ground of very excellent quality, containing 98 acres. The 
usual stock for such land is a bullock to an acre, but sheep are 
generally kept in addition, to the extent of one fat sheep, or one 
couple (ewe and lamb), to each ox. The cattle which are not 
disposed of from grass are perhaps supplied with a little hay in 
the pastures before they are tied up. They are stalled for about 
two months, and fed on hay and oil-cake. The quantity of cake 
given to these large cattle is really wonderful, 6 cakes or 18 lbs. 
per day being a common allowance, and some instances have 
occurred in which an ox has etiien Jifteen cakes per day. This is 
surely more than the stomach of any bullock can profitably assi- 
milate. Putlowes has long been extensively known for its 
