232 
On the Feeding of Stock. 
If we examine tlie details of these results we may learn several 
lessons by regarding the different animals as in some degree 
typical of a class. I think that in respect of the three first a 
better economical result might have been attained if they had 
not been unduly pushed for the sake of their dainty comrades. 
Nearly the same weight might have been attained at some 
cheaper rate of feeding, so that the money lost on 2 and 3 might 
perhaps have been saved, and a small profit shown on No. 1. 
At the same time the rate of feeding was not above the tradi- 
tional practice of the district, and the results, as concerns the 
three first beasts, a good average one according to such practice, 
showing a probable increase of nearly 20 stone in 21 weeks. A 
rise in the market which occurred at the time of sale was, more- 
over, unusually opportune. 
No. 1 exhibits the advantage of blood even in a well-bred 
lot of animals ; he was mellow, though small in size. 
On the other hand, when my neighbours, like myself, play 
with these manure-making machines, I believe they not uncom- 
monly burn their fingers quite as much as I did with Nos. 5, 6, 7 ; 
or if one of the lot gets out of sorts, as much as I did with 
No. 4.* 
available for ailing rather than healthy stock. It is, indeed, conceivable that 
under an artificial system of diet, a constant supply of that which is medicinal 
may be desirable, to make good a defect originating in that which is artificial in the 
system, in the same way that antiscorbutics are rightly given indiscriminately to a 
crew at sea. If grasses, whether in their green or dried stats, be withheld, the 
straw substituted may be defective in some element which is of service, rather to 
aid the process of digestion by supplying the requisite juices, than that of assimi- 
lation by contributing directly to nutrition ; the presence and influence of this 
element may be detected rather by flavour than by an analysis, which refers chiefly 
to primary chemical substances. I do not believe, however, that where roots and 
bean-meal are judiciously supplied to healthy stock, any defect in the diet will 
practically arise from a want of grass, the natural food of the animal. At any rate, 
if farmers buy medicinal stimulants, they would naturally prefer to buy them by 
themselves, and mix them with food for themselves ; giving the preference to that 
source of supply where the ingredients are declared, and consequently their pre- 
sence in due proportion the more readily ascertained. 
* Mr. Bond, in the discussion before referred to, gave the following as the 
final balance-sheet of an intimate friend, arising from old-fashioned fatting of 
bullocks : — 
Dr. £. s. d. 
8 old beasts at 19/ 152 0 0 
20 weeks' keep, at an average of — 
10 lbs. of cake per day, at Id. per lb. .. 0 10 
3 bushels of mangold, at 2rf. per bushel 0 6 
Half a peck of meal at 4c/. (a low esti- 
mate— P. H. F.) 0 4 
1 8 
Is. 8<f. a day X 8 beasts X 140 days 93 6 8 
Attendance 5 0 0 
£250 6 8 
