DAIRY FARMING. 
459 
first fortnight, the third and fourth weeks half new and halt 
skim ; afterwards the skim itself will answer admirably, and 
as the season advances the thickened milk does equally well. 
When given in sufficient quantity, coagulated milk fattens 
amazingly, many lots of calves so fed being fit for the butcher 
when turned out to shift for themselves. The most dan- 
gerous and insidious disease to which young and rapidly- 
thriving animals are subject is black-quarter, which, when it 
breaks out, very frequently commits sad havoc before it can 
be checked, making the loss very serious when the cattle are 
particularly well bred. It gives so little warning that reme- 
dial measures are usually of little avail, and therefore on those 
pastures liable to its periodical appearance amongst the 
young stock whatever can be done in the way of prevention 
should on no account be neglected. Dry-lying in the field is 
essential as a preventive, and care not to shift too suddenly 
from moderate keep to rich and succulent pastures, as blood- 
striking is almost sure to follow. A seton in the dewlap is 
strongly recommended by many distinguished veterinarians, 
and as we have ourselves often tried it, and lost none when 
the precaution has been used, we consider it worth while 
recording the mode of using it. So as to render the cord 
more irritating it should be made specially for the purpose, 
with one-half hemp and the other half horse-hair, and in sub- 
stance about the thickness of ordinary fencing-wire. When 
thus made, the seton does not require to be rubbed with 
Venice turpentine or cantharides ointment, the irritation 
which it induces being quite enough for the purpose required. 
In inserting the seton a little care is necessary to avoid the 
blood-vessels, which can be done by taking the dewlap 
between the finger and thumb, and ascertaining the exact 
point at which the flesh terminates, underneath which the 
puncture should be made and the cord introduced, a couple 
of tight knots being put on each end to prevent its slipping 
out. At intervals the cords should be examined, and drawn 
back and forward with some degree of force to prevent clog- 
ging and assist the discharge. As we have already noticed, 
damp bottoms are a fruitful source of black- quarter, and 
according as they are rendered dry by drainage, this dire 
disease becomes less frequent in its attacks, and of a milder 
and less fatal type. In situations difficult of improvement 
housing by night should be resorted to very early in autumn, 
so as to obviate as much as possible the injurious effects of the 
damp soil and chilling frosty dews. 
The Supply of Food . — As the cow is fed so will her produce 
be greater or less, profitable or otherwise, is an axiom pretty 
