On the Feeding of Stock. 
235 
(which hatter are dependent on locality), and whatever be the secret 
of his success, what one man has done others may accomplish. 
4thly. It being highly probable that straw-chaff will play an 
important part in this economical manufacture of beef, we see 
that recent improvements have much diminished the cost of 
cutting : that the attention of both scientific and practical men is 
actively directed to the discovery of means that will render this 
substance more digestible ; that a slight fermentation seems con- 
ducive to this end, and more economical, whilst it is probably as 
efficacious as heating by steam. 
5thly. The digestion of the straw itself may be promoted by 
the admixture of other kinds of food supplying those juices in 
which straw is defective as compared with grass or hay. 
6thly. Even if this supply cannot be procured from ordinary 
kinds of food at fair feeding prices, attempts will not be wanting 
to supply the defect by medicinal compounds, which may, ere 
long, result in procuring us a good well-ascertained article at a 
moderate price. 
But if, when looking to the future, we do not despair of learning 
to produce beef for the market at a reasonable price, without 
loss, or with a small profit, we have, even retrospectively, a far 
brighter side to our picture when we turn to our sheep. If, on 
the one hand, it has been an exceptional case when in past years 
money has not been lost by fatting beasts, on the other hand the 
case has been singular if, with like care bestowed, a profit has 
not been made by the sheep. 
It may be well, however, before entering on details of the cost 
and profit of breeding sheep, to give some acconnt of the flock 
treated of, and the circumstances under which it came to be 
selected. 
The first point which I had to decide upon when entering my 
farm was, whether to keep a dry or a breeding flock, or in some 
degi'ee to combine the two ; the next point was, which breed of 
sheep to prefer, though it is not easy to keep these two considera- 
tions quite separate. 
My position, which was not unfavourable for a breeding flock,, 
naturally turned my attention to that quarter ; and the rearing 
of stock is so much the most interesting part of farming, that 
none but the most unfavourable circumstances will induce an old 
breeder to change to keeping a dry flock only. 
Besides the great interest which is connected with breeding (an 
interest which secures attention and so conduces indirectly to 
profit), the following considerations influenced my decision : — 
The rule that stock, if they are to thrive, should be kept 
steadily well from first to last, applies to the sheep as well as to 
the ox, yet this condition of success is not easy of attainment 
