Gorse as Food for Cattle. 
525 
There is a prevailing but most erroneous opinion, tliat " the 
worse the ground the better for gorse," and that even in yellow 
clay it flourishes. This opinion arises from its great liability to 
be smothered with weeds, which will not grow in yellow clay or 
bad ground. I tried the experiment to convince my steward, and 
planted some seedlings in very bad ground and others in a rich 
bed in the flower-garden. Those in the bad ground in the 
second year attained the height of 18 inches, while those in the 
garden arrived to the height of 3 feet. The seed, steeped as 
directed, I had sown late in March, and it is now (23rd April) all 
above ground. 
2. The Age of the Plant lohen cut. 
The plants transplanted in September I commence cutting in 
the October of the following year. Many persons allow gorse 
to become two years old before cutting, and, with a billhook, cut 
every second year, and afterwards cut off the side shoots for food. 
I very much disapprove of this plan — first, because the plants at 
two years old have lost their rich and succulent quality ; and, 
secondly, on account of the great expense attending it. 
3. The Mode and Expense of Cutting. 
Cutting (yearly) is very cheap and simple; it is performed 
with a scythe of the common description. One man in an hour 
will mow a sufficient quantity for the daily support of thirty head 
of cattle. 
4. Mode and Expense of Preparing. 
Horses, being provided with teeth in both upper and under 
jaws, do not require to have the gorse so finely prepared as that 
intended for cows. From October until January the young plants 
are both rich and succulent, and, for horses, only require to be 
passed through the chafling machine ; but after January they 
become more dry, and require to be bruised under the stones after 
passing through the chaffing-machine. In the month of April 
gorse comes into blossom, when it becomes bitter, and will be 
rejected by both cows and horses. Cows, being ruminating 
animals, swallow their food whole, and afterwards bring it up 
again from the stomach to the mouth for the purpose of masti- 
cation. If the thorns are not well bruised they would produce 
inflammation in the passage, and instinct would cause the animal 
to reject it; therefore it is first passed through the chafling- 
machine, and afterwards bruised under the stones, until it assumes 
the appearance of moss. 
Cows fed on gorse require to be confined to the stall. Those 
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