158 
Rearing of Calves. 
Before I conclude I must impress on young farmers the great 
advantage of having tlieir stock-houses properly constructed, so 
that there should be no lack of light or fresh air ; both are 
essential to the well-being of calves. I am rather an advocate 
for the light being admitted from the roof, or at all events 
sufficiently high to prevent the animals standing " at gaze," and, 
by much -watching, becoming unsettled and unthrifty. The 
houses should be kept scrupulously clean, no accumulation of 
dung or wet litter allowed to remain, and the floors thoroughly 
swept before fresh straw is supplied. I find wood answers 
admirably as a floor ; it is more easily kept clean than ordinary 
pavement. If good paving stones are scarce, the thinnings from 
young plantations, cut into blocks about ten inches long, and 
placed vertically on a bed of sand, will be found an excellent 
substitute. I prefer the wood to the stone, and both to flagging, 
which is at times dangerous, owing to the smoothness its surface 
presents from wear and wet. 
While animals are feeding, their houses should be cleaned 
rather than at any other time, and then also their coats should be 
brushed, as they will like to lie down and rest when their food 
is disposed of. The gases arising from decomposed vegetable 
matter are injurious to cattle ; and if so to adults, must they not 
be much more so to animals of tender age ? In severe weather 
warmth, and at the same time proper ventilation, should be pro- 
vided : the importance of these requisites cannot be overrated. 
In conclusion, I may remark that I have treated of the rearing 
of calves with the aim of turning them into money with all con- 
venient speed, whether in the shape of well-bred cows for breed- 
ing and the dairy, or of fine steers ready for the slaughter-house. 
Of veal calves I have said nothing, not considering that they 
come within the limits of an ' Essay on Rearing Calves.' They 
are not, in fact, reared, as it takes but a very short period of time 
to prepare them for their purpose. It behoves the rearer of 
calves to " look sharp ;" for mortality amongst them tells fearfully 
against his pocket. The death of one or two in the year, and 
even delicacy and the absence of thrift, would swallow up a con- 
siderable amount of any profit a breeder (on an average scale) 
might reasonably expect from his young stock, because he must 
always allow a margin for casualties in the byre previous to 
birth (" there is many a slip between the cup and the lip "), and 
the would-be rearer is often disappointed by cows aborting, or 
unfortunately producing dead calves, events over which he cannot 
have much control ; to which, however, I am disposed to think 
high feeding largely conduces. When he has his calves safe and 
sound, I do not feel that I presume too much when I say that, by 
