140 
SOILING, OR STALL-FEEDING. 
To insure the advantages of stall-feeding, how¬ 
ever, both as respects the health and progress of the 
cattle, and the collection of the manure, it is essen¬ 
tial that the sheds, yards, and stalls should be so 
arranged as to economize labor, secure the warmth 
and comfort of the animals, and prevent the slight¬ 
est waste of the manure, whether in a liquid or 
solid state. The urine should be preserved in tanks 
or pits filled with pulverized charcoal or peat, and 
the dung-yard should be deepened and hollowed 
out, so as to retain all the moisture of the manure, 
in order that not a drop may drain away and be lost 
to the farm. 
Young animals requiring exercise, will generally 
grow better, and acquire more vigor in the open 
pasture, than when confined in a house or fold ; but 
cows are impatient of heat, when the sun scorches 
and the gad-fly stings, and feeding them in houses 
increases their milk, and the manure is thereby pre¬ 
served and greatly increased. Warmth and rest are 
necessary for the fattening of all animals, and these 
essentials are secured by stall-feeding. 
A bullock fed in the house consumes much less 
food, and fattens much sooner, than if fed in the 
field, the difference amounting in many cases to one- 
half in favor of house-feeding. Heat and cold, and 
the variations of climate, affect cattle in the open 
field, whilst those under cover are protected; and 
much exercise prevents the secretion of fat. This 
applies equally well to sheep, pigs, and poultry, 
and by the judicious farmer, should never be lost 
sight of. 
Working horses and oxen are greatly benefited 
by soiling, being saved thereby the labor of collect¬ 
ing their food, after their task is done. They can also 
fill themselves sooner, and consequently have more 
time for rest; and they repose much better in a sta¬ 
ble or shed, with plenty of litter, than in an open 
field, where there are so many things to annoy 
them. 
Bullocks fed in the house, become more tracta¬ 
ble for work, and are free from many accidents and 
disorders. The size and symmetry of cattle thus 
fed and sheltered, show that stock so kept will 
generally surpass that which is exposed to the 
vicissitudes of climate and other circumstances in¬ 
separable from open grazing, even on the best 
pastures. 
The practice of soiling cows and cattle, either 
tied up in stalls, or in sheds, or fed loose in the 
fold-yard, is not so general as that of horses; but 
since it answers for horses to be fed in the stable, 
there can be no reason why house-feeding should 
not answer for cattle. Any quantity of clover and 
other green crops, may be consumed in this way to 
the great benefit of the tillage-farmer, who always 
needs more manure than can be accumulated from 
the straw of his grain-crops alone; and it is obvious 
that a much larger quantity may be obtained by 
this practice, than in the ordinary way, while the 
quality is greatly superior. 
When cattle are soiled in the open farm-yard, 
sheds should be fitted up in some convenient part 
of it, for shelter from the sun and rain. They may 
have the use of the yard for air and exercise, and 
when confined entirely in the stalls, they must be 
kept dry and perfectly clean. To allow them to 
sleep or stand in wet, or dirt, would be very inju¬ 
rious,—lessening the milk in one case, and retard¬ 
ing the fattening in the other, and injuring their 
health in both. 
In stall-feeding, the food should be given fre¬ 
quently and in small quantities. By a judicious 
mixture, and a regular supply, a much greater 
increase of flesh may be produced than by any 
irregular mode of feeding, however good the quality 
or abundant the quantity of the food. To over¬ 
feed, is as bad as to starve a beast, and it produces 
similar effects. On the least appearance of a loss of 
appetite, the quantity of food must be lessened. 
When the diet of cows is suddenly changed from 
dry food to green, they are apt to injure themselves 
at first, by eating too eagerly of the green food; 
and on thiS|account, care should betaken that they 
have not too much at once, but that it be given 
often and in small quantities. 
Clover should be given sparingly at first; for if 
too abundant, or if it be given in a wet state, it is 
apt to bring on a disease called having, or swelling. 
This complaint is supposed to arise from the air, 
or gases generated by the fermentation of the 
clover in the stomach of the animal; and if relief 
is not speedily afforded, death is liable to ensue. 
The clover should be cut the day before it is given 
to the cattle, w T hich will generally prevent their 
swelling; but if this disease should attack them, 
half a pint of train-oil, an egg-shellful of tar, or a 
pound of salt dissolved in water, will soon afford 
relief. Straw r should be given with the clover as 
fodder, which will correct a tendency to looseness 
in the bowels. Pigs may also be soiled on clover 
with much advantage, and for that purpose alone 
there ought to be a small patch of this grass in-every 
cottage garden. 
In soiling, the cattle should always have an 
abundance of good water, and a careful person 
should be appointed to attend them, and to supply 
them regularly w T ith fresh food. Indian corn or 
millet sown at different times, to be cut in succes¬ 
sion, when the clover fails or becomes over-ripe, 
are highly useful, as the dairy cows will other¬ 
wise fall off in milk. In Holland, the cows are fed 
in the house, are supplied with water mixed with 
oil-cake, rye or oatmeal; and they are allowed a 
supply of salt, which conduces to their health, and 
improves the quality, and increases the quantity of 
their milk. 
In feeding cows, it has been recommeMded to 
commence at six o’clock in the morning, with tur¬ 
nips, clover, or other green food, according to the 
season ; and then to give a feed every two hours 
till night, with a small parcel of hay between each ; 
that is, six feeds of green food, and five of hay 
each day, with hay at night. Two pounds of hay 
will be enough at each feed, and four pounds at 
night, which make fourteen pounds in twenty-four- 
hours. The cows should have water twice a day. 
Sixty pounds of mangold wortzel, or turnips, 
per day, is enough for a cow. Previous to 
being given, the roots should be washed clean, and 
cut into large slices; if cut into small, round, or 
square pieces, there is more danger of choking than 
when cut into large slices. A little salt scattered 
on the roots, after being cut, will be very servicea- 
