229 
COVERED YARDS AND BOX FEEDING. 
The general introduction of under-cover feeding, which is 
gradually superseding the ordinary open farm-yards with un- 
troughed buildings, renders it necessary to consider the 
matter with reference to the health of our animals. The 
heavy losses from disease prove that at present there are 
many points affecting the sanitary condition of our animals 
that require inquiry and amendment; I purpose stating my 
own experience and some other facts, in the hope that my 
brother-agriculturists will communicate their views and prac- 
tice on this all important question. I say all important, because 
I believe that when we get statistics of the number of 
animals lost by disease on each farm, it will show a formidable 
sum total of deduction from the farmers’ profits. For many 
years I have kept my bullocks, sheep, and pigs on open 
boarded floors, and with complete success, never having in 
any instance had a complaint amongst them, although some- 
times from 300 to 400 pigs, 200 sheep, and 30 to 30 bullocks 
have been placed in close quarters. 
Although I cut up a great quantity of straw for consump- 
tion by my animals, still, owing to the large bulk I now 
grow, I find I cannot get rid of it all in that way. I, 
therefore, converted my large barn into a covered yard, and 
have had therein at various times three lots of bullocks, none 
of which turned out satisfactorily, either as regarded the 
animals or the manure, although they were well littered 
down with clean straw every day. I suspected that the cause 
of this was the heating of the manure under them, which 
became so intensely hot, although moist, that on removing 
the upper layer volumes of steam would rise to the top of the 
barn. One week was sufficient to render it as hot as a 
cucumber bed, and in five or six weeks the dung became 
“fire fanged” and undecomposed. Knowing how 7 many 
covered yards succeed, and having observed the dung from 
these removed in a rich, cool, “ spitting” condition, and 
knowing, too, how 7 discrepant have been the various results 
of box and under-cover feeding, I instituted inquiries into 
the cause, and received from one whom I consider the father 
of covered yards, a most lucid explanation. I had for many 
years seen in the covered homestalls of the Rev. Mr. Cooke, 
of Semer, near Hadleigh, many fine beasts in perfect health 
and condition on manure from tw 7 o to four feet thick. To 
him, therefore, I applied for explanation and information. 
“ Well,” he said, “ like yourself, in my early days I found my 
cattle unhealthy, and perceived that the cause was a too 
liberal supply of straw as litter ; the air being thus admitted, 
set up violent fermentation and the heating process. I there- 
xxix. 30 
