430 
Management of Cattle. 
and the immense supply of steers and oxen which annually pass 
into the midland and eastern parts of the kinj^dom shows the 
high estimation in which this description of cattle is held. They 
are purchased by the graziers in those rich fen districts where a 
bullock of 70 or 80 stone and a sheep can be fattened on an acre, 
and upon inferior pastures they are frequently grazed during the 
summer, and then finished in stalls, boxes, or yards during the 
following winter. Each of the above plans has its separate advo- 
cates, and I merely mention them without presuming to deter- 
mine which is the best. On farms where straw is scarce, stalls 
in warm hovels used to be preferred ; but during the last few 
years the plan of box-feeding has come extensively into practice ; 
and, like all new systems, is advocated by some of its supporters 
as being tlie only mode in which cattle can be properly fattened. 
In stall-feeding upon the old plan the animals are generally tied 
up in pairs, and in well-arranged buildings a passage-way is left 
between the heads of the cattle and the back wall for the conve- 
nience of supplying and cleaning out the manger. There are 
also shutters so contrived as to open and shut according to the 
weather, in order to preserve an equable temperature, and also 
underground drains for carrying off the liquid manure into a tank. 
A feed of turnips or other roots is given the first thing in the 
morning ; the stalls are then cleaned out and the cattle supplied 
with dry litter. When the morning's feed is consumed, a dry 
feed of linseed-cake, bean or pea meal mixed with clover chaff or 
other dry food is then served out. The animal is then left quiet 
during the forenoon and usually lies down. At noon turnips are 
again given, and by some the dry feed also as before, repeating it 
at night ; whilst others prefer giving the artificial food only twice 
in the day. When stall-feeding is managed in the best manner, 
the animal is well cleaned daily with a curry-comb or hard 
brush, which tends much towards promoting and preserving its 
health. 
Boxes are generally from 8 to 10 feet square, are separated 
from each other by three or four strong rails, and have a manger 
in front divided in the middle, so that the roots and the dry food 
may be placed in separate compartments. 
One of the leading features in this system, and one upon which 
its advocates lay great stress, is that the manure is not removed 
as in stalls ; fresh straw is daily sprinkled over the box, the 
trampling of the animals kneads the manure into a solid mass, 
which frequently remains untouched for several months, and thus 
is made very fertilizing to any crop for which it is used. Those 
who practise box-feeding frequently use the cattle compound 
instead of linseed-cake, or bean or pea meal ; and this may be 
almost considered an essential part of their system. This kind 
