CATTLE. 
135 
leisure, and, whenever we observed them, they were clean and free from 
smell, and every thing objectionable. The fact of the treading, and thor- 
ough consolidation by the animals’ feet, prevents fermentation, and the 
consequent evolution of gases which would take place if mere stall-feed- 
ing wore practiced. On the whole, we think there are many more valid 
reasons in favor of than against box-feeding. 
The direction given to men’s minds by the experiments of Mr. 
Warnes, induced trials with all kinds of modifications of flax-seed cook- 
ing; but the one which has obtained the greatest amount of favor is 
that adopted by Mr. Marshall, near Thirsk. The great difference be- 
tween Mr. Marshall’s plan and that of Mr. Warnes, is, that the material 
cooked has not the heat applied to it directly, but to the outside of the 
boiler in which it is to be cooked, so that no direct application of the 
fire shall take place to burn the mucilaginous matter. Mr. Marshall in- 
sists that, to cook the material properly, it must be boiled at least two 
hours. 
llis mode is this : — one pound of flax-seed is boiled for two or three 
hours in about one and a half gallons of water. Five pounds of straw 
are chopped, say one inch long, and mixed with two and a half pounds 
of ground oats or barley meal very intimately, which is then placed on 
a floor of flags of bricks, and the boiled seed poured upon the mass, and 
turned, and then allowed to cool one or two hours, when it is given to 
the cattle. 
The cost of the apparatus or fitting will be about £50 (or $ 250 .) 
On the whole we think it very desirable to adopt one or the other pro- 
cess in all situations where an increased quantity, and better quality of 
manure is a desideratum, not to mention the more profitable return, as 
exhibited in both the systems described. 
Mr. Warnes, altogether unprejudiced in favor of his own peculiar sys- 
tem, has been experimenting on the mode recommended by some gra- 
ziers, of steeping the linseed-meal in cold water for some twelve or 
fourteen hours, — when a slight mucilaginous deposit was the result. 
The experiment will no doubt be carefully and accurately made under 
his directions ; but, we confess, our prepossessions are in favor of the 
cooked materials. 
The following is a plan of Mr Warnes’s shed boxes for cattle-feeding : 
Mr. Thompson, of Moat Hall, Yorkshire, a most skillful and accurate 
