licarimj of Calves. 
145 
is more in tlieso old-lHsliioncd matters tlian you may care to 
recofjnise. As Mr. Bowie, of Forfarshire, a noted breeder of 
polled cattle, remarked when we happened to see his younj^ stock 
last summer, " That," said he, " is the life of them," pointinc: at 
tlie sauu' time to the burn or brook which ran alonji^ the bottom 
of the field, and in wliich the calves were standinjj, and swisliing- 
tluMr tails, under a broil inj^ sunshine. Among calves reared in 
the manner we have named, blood-striking, or (piarter-ill, is 
hardly known. We* have only had one case out of 150 calves so 
treated, and that was attended by special circumstances, which 
readily accounted for the illness as exceptional. Not that we 
should advocate putting them into a park which is so filled w'ith 
tiiken-in stock as to cause a risk of semi-starvation. Bett(-r in 
such a case to keep them at home, and graze them on a piece of 
old turf, or second year's " seeds," or something of the kind. 
But there are certainly many parks (or enclosures adjacent to 
them) where an arrangement of the kind could be readily made ; 
and, even if not pr(>tty close at hand, the facility of railway com- 
munication partially nullifies a distance of 20 or 30 miles.* 
Many of the west of Scotland farmers send their young stock, for 
summer keep, across the Clyde, to the green-topped hills beyond, 
wisely reckoning that their own grazings pay better in the shape 
of milk, butter, or cheese, for the teeming population near at 
hand. But, from a " penny wise and pound foolish" sort of 
policy, which forbids their bestowing more than the smallest 
modicum of care, attention, or expense upon their stock until 
they are of an age to enter the dairy, the summer seems to do but 
little for them.f 
Kept thus, calves ought not to cost their owner much 
trouble or expense during the first summer of their existence ; 
i.e., when they have fairly said good-bye to the pail or the feeding 
trough. In October, however, they must not be forgotten, but 
according to the mildness or severity of the season either have 
their range prolonged, or be brought to the homestead. Re- 
ceiving yard shelter at night, and a dry feed into the bargain, they 
may roam in any convenient pasture during the day. In another 
month the horns may be branded with an inch brand, and the 
numbers entered in the private herd-book. Every farmer who 
rears stock, of even the most moderate quality, ought to keep 
* This resource would be valuable and obvious but for the danger of chill and 
contagiou at present incurred ; whilst long delays befoi'e starting, perhaps in 
taiuted pens, and rapid passage througli the raw night-air, have to be encountered, 
owners of well-bred stock will probably prefer driving 20 or even 50 miles to 
railroad risks.— P. H. F. 
t The summer grazing (6 months) of a 2 years-old heifer is charged 325. 6rf. ; 
1 year-old, 21s. 4d. ; and calves in proportion. 
VOL. XXII. L 
