( 1^^^ ) 
VII. — On the Rearing of Calves. By Thomas Bowick. 
Prize Essay, 
Owing to the increasins^ consumption of meat, and the compara- 
tively early age at which ripe beasts are brouf^ht to the shambles, 
" tlie rearing of calves" becomes more and more a subject of 
imi)ortance, and worthy of the attention of the leading agricul- 
tural society of the kingdom. Not that there is any need to 
enlarge on the getting up of stock for the July meeting, or for 
the stalls in Bingley Hall or Baker Street ; that is a different 
branch of the subject, which, however interesting or valuable in 
itself, hardly concerns nine out of every ten rent-paying farmers. 
" Master Butterfly" may have his pailful of milk morning and 
night until the days of calf hood are long gone by ; or 
" Duchess 317th" may pull at the teats of her nurse till a pair 
of incisors push out the like number of milk-teeth ; and still 
there will be no proof that such can ever be called a desirable 
general practice. The question before us is how to rear the best lot 
of calves, and the largest number of them, at the least expense. 
And, as it is of no use to have the bird without a cage to put it 
in, so the first point to be attended to is to have the calf-house in 
decent order and of good construction. We do not say of the 
best construction, for the question has yet to be settled what that 
really is ; and, even when that is done, the majority may be 
unable to avail themselves of the decision. Still, about most 
farm premises a spare hovel can be allotted, and, if need be, 
modified or amended, for this purpose. Believing, as we do, 
that calves are best tied up for the first couple of months, that 
they are more manageable in getting their milk from the pail, 
and that the least outlay is thus involved in house-room, we may 
simply describe the arrangement of such a building as is referred to. 
Take any convenient shed or house that comes to your hand ; say, 
18 feet X 15 feet, well lighted and aired, but without draughts, 
and the walls 7 feet high. Leaving one side unoccupied, as the 
fall of the brick floor (1 {7ich to the yard) should be from the 
other three sides, converging in that direction, where a grated 
cesspool should be ready for taking off the urine, you may 
divide the remaining walls into ten standings. These divisions 
need not be expensive. Wicker hurdles,* costing Is. each, and 
measuring 5 feet X 3 feet, will answer every purpose. One end 
requires to be firmly secured to the wall, and the bottom fixed to 
the floor with a couple of holdfasts. Of course, in an arrange- 
ment such as the one spoken of, there is ample room for the 
♦ Flake-hurdles, or lamb-hurdles, as they are variously styled. 
