152 
Rearing of Calves. 
effect which one kind of substance may have by the sub- 
stitution of anotlicr. He never puts an animal up that is 
lying, as he knows it is " doing " as much when at perfect rest 
as if it had its liead in a bucket of milk ; (juietncss and gentle- 
ness follow all his movements, and the animals remain in that 
peaceful, placid state, so conducive to their well-being. They 
know " the times and seasons " as well as he does, and with 
astonishing punctuality rise and expect their feed ; and the 
herdsman is careful not to be behind time, knowing well that 
" fretting causes wasting," and, if the calves are suffered to bellow 
and moan for their meals, the meat will not be " put up " as 
rapidly as it ought. This part of the system might well be 
more generally adopted, for kindness, quiet, and regularity cost 
nothing. 
No doubt some owners of shorthorns make this mode (if 
feeding pay, particularly those who have tribes of cattle of un- 
doubted purity of blood and fashion, and have won themselves 
names as l)reeders ; but to the ordinary amateur it is an un- 
profitable amusement, expensive and disappointing. 
It is very difficult to lay down an exact rule for feeding calves, 
as far as quantity is concerned ; nor can a time be fixed for 
weaning ; the appearance of forwardness in the animals being 
the best rule to go by. However, as a general mode, supposing 
rV calf to be dropped in March, I would suggest that pure 
" mother's milk " should be given for a fortnight, then by 
degrees an admixture of the oilcake-gruel introduced, and a 
sufficient drink allowed at each meal, so as to remove all hollow- 
ness from the flank. In a few weeks six gallons will be taken by 
the calf, and when the weather is favourable it should be allowed 
to run in some well-sheltered place where the pasture is sweet. 
In three months calves have an appetite for grass, and it is then 
that the process of weaning should be begun. I never use 
skimmed milk: and I gather from the experience I have had in 
rearing calves, that pure milk and the oilcake-gruel is the most 
wholesome as well as the most profitable mixture for calves. 
Water-gruel, hay-tea, and linseed-jelly, may he all used, and 
calves weaned on them ; but the condition of those fed on the 
cake-gruel and pure milk will well bear comparison with the 
others. ' 
I would have the calves fed with milk and gruel at 6 o'clock 
in the morning, or as soon after the cows are milked as possible. 
Then supposing them to have arrived at an age to be allowed to 
run at pasture, I would defer their being driven out until an 
hour or so after their first feed, so as to allow the process of 
digestion to be somewhat advanced, as Avhen healthy calves are 
turned out thev usually run and play about at first, which is by 
