Diminishinj the Qaantity of Roots in Fattening Cattle. 489 
I will presently give some particulars of the feeding of some 
bullocks last winter ; but my immediate object is to repeat a 
protest I have made from time to time against tlie prevailing 
practice of giving to feediiif/ nLUimaXs a very large quantity of roots 
daily, and that in a neat state. When I commenced feeding 
bullocks, some years ago, I depended mainly on the experience 
of others, and was in the habit of noting down the allowances of 
the different kinds of food recommended in the agricultural 
periodicals, and otherwise, by men of reputed authority in sucb 
matters. The quantity of roots usually recommended I have 
observed to be from 1 to 1^ cwt. per diem, and for large bul- 
locks even up to 2 cwt., and that without admixture. 
Now what is the object we propose to accomplish ? It may 
be assumed for our present purpose we are dealing with animals 
at maturity in point of growth, that the skeleton is fully de- 
veloped, and that we have only to accumulate flesh and fat. The 
first consideration would seem to be, what is the food which, at 
the least cost, contains the largest proportion of those elements • 
which build up muscle and fat, and is at the same time palatable 
to the animal. General experience points to the various roots 
grown on the farm as best fulfdling the latter condition ; but 
when it is borne in mind they contain on an average some- 
where about 88 per cent, of water, the next point for considera- 
tion is, how Ave can combine with this quantity of fluid as much 
solid food of an ordinary kind (whether hay, straw, or chaff) as 
may be requisite, having reference to the capacity of the stomach, 
and that degree of healthy action which is essential to the due 
assimilation of the more nutritious portions of the food. It must 
ever be borne in mind that it is not the quantity of food put into 
the stomach of the animal which accomplishes the object in view, 
but that which is thoroughly diffested and assimilated by the 
healthy action of the viscera. When animals are in a state of 
rest, and consuming food so mixed, I have observed that, with 
water constantly before them, they take very little, unless the 
more nutritious food superadded be of a heating nature, such as 
pea or bean meal in too large a proportion : the safest course is 
to combine crushed linseed with those articles. Such consicfera- 
tions led me to doubt the expediency of making the chief food of 
fattening animals that, nine-tenths of which consist of water, and 
more especially unmixed with more solid food. The setting 
before a bullock half a cwt. of neat roots the first thing in the 
morning, some hours afterwards their allowance of more solid 
and nutritious food, and repeating the feed of roots in the even- 
ing, appeared to me an irrational proceeding ; and, on the other 
hand, that a due admixture of the solid and fluid foods would 
probably aid the proper digestion of each. 1 resolved therefore 
