-426 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 3, 1893. 
work as this evidently is, it is not always profitable, and the 
point that we wish to elucidate is that losses upon fattening 
beasts arise from mismanagement more frequently than from 
adverse markets. To begin with, pure-bred cattle have a decided 
advantage over mongrel-bred animals, the latter requiring twice 
as much food and twice as much time as the former to become 
really fat. When both are ripe for the butcher it is the small¬ 
boned, compact beast, rather than the large-boned coarse animal 
which obtains the higher price at sale or market. Go to a good 
auction mart, and the truth of this statement will be found to 
have plenty of illustration, yet well-bred beasts brought to early 
maturity are not always profitable. The reason of this is usually 
mismanagement both of the cattle and of pasture. Extravagant 
outlay for forcing food by no means implies feeding to profit. 
There is now no doubt whatever that an immense amount of 
money has been lost over the stall-feeding of matured beasts in 
winter. 
Recently published records of the feeding from birth to 
slaughter at thirty-four months of a grade Devon steer aflEord 
a useful lesson in this matter to all graziers, and they are posi¬ 
tively startling to those who persist in clinging to old custom 
without regard to profit or loss. All the food given to this steer 
was carefully weighed and measured, roots being valued at 10s. per 
ton. Cabbage and cut grass at 15s. per ton, litter at 20s. per ton, 
and cake, hay, and bran at market price. The nominal value 
of the roots was estimated at 4s. per ton, that of the litter at 
half its cost, that of the hay at 15s. per ton, and that of the 
cake and bran at one-third the market price. The net result 
when the steer was sold was a loss of £7 16s. 9d., and yet it 
had made an average daily gain of a fraction over n lb., which 
goes to show that winter stall feeding is unprofitable, no matter 
how well the beast is bred. 
The daily average gain of 1J lb. in weight is precisely what we 
have come to expect in a well-bred animal. The outlay should be 
considerably less than 6s. per week ; yet the Devon steer cost 
more than twice that amount per week. That was an example of 
extravagance in the past which, it is hoped, will lead to better 
management in the future. What is wanted is well-bred, well- 
reared calves, that are kept in full condition from the first, are never 
•ubjected to ridiculous extremes, but are kept growing steadily^ 
are well sheltered from cold, from filth and impurity of all kinds ; 
or, in other words, kindly treatment, protection, clean buildings, 
clean dry litter, wholesome nourishing food. As forward yearlings, 
the following spring they are strong, sturdy animals, admirably 
calculated to derive all possible advantage from a summer’s grazing 
on good pasture. But even this must be done with judgment ; 
nothing must be left to chance. If the summer proves cold and 
wet they must have shelter and a fair amount of dry food ; they 
must also be brought into the yards early rather than late in 
autumn—gradually brought in and accustomed to winter quarters 
and winter food. Our especial aim, then, is to have them “ fresh ” 
—i.e.f robust and full of flesh at turning-out time next spring, 
when they are about two years old. Then, if they are to prove 
profitable, we must have some really good pasture to turn them 
to, for they require six months’ first-class grazing to finish them. 
Life in the yards is over for them if only we have got our pasture 
into as good condition as that of the beasts. Why not ? Surely 
nothing can be more simple or more certain than the bringing 
into and keeping in high condition of all permanent pasture. It 
ought not to be so to our readers, for the method of it has been 
set before them often enough. 
We earnestly hope that this article may prove a word to the 
wise now, when calves are so often turned out to rough it, and 
fall off so seriously in condition. Any feeding that is done is 
often entrusted to a boy without any actual supervision. His 
familiar cry of “ Bully ! bully !” brings the calves with a run 
across the home close. They have their ration of milk, and that is 
all. Out they are, and out they must be till autumn, when 
persistent coughing so often tells of husk, and they are driven to a 
hovel with the idea—very vague and undefined in meaning or 
conception—that something must be done. There are losses then, 
there generally are, and so it goes on year after year. We are not 
without hope that a better state of things may yet be brought 
about, that graziers may be induced to see their interest in a change 
in cattle management after they come to recognise the possibility 
of improvement. That is the point after all, if only it can be 
managed the rest will follow. We have got on with dairy training, 
let us hope that rearing and feeding cattle for profit may also be 
thought worthy of attention, and also be thought capable of 
improvement, as dairy practice has proved to be. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
As we write this note in the last week of May sheep-washing has 
become general in what may be termed safe weather for this work, for 
the days are hot and the nights warm. The flies will therefore soon be 
troublesome, and it will be well to get the sheep-shearing done at once 
when the wool is in condition. After the shearing, in the course of a 
week or fortnight, if any wounds inflicted by the shears are quite healed, 
dip sheep and lambs in Cooper’s dip, because lambs will probably have 
taken some ticks from the ewe. This makes them free from parasites 
for some time to come—say three months, and also keeps off fly attacks 
for awhile. Only be sure and separate ewes and lambs before the 
dipping, and long enough afterwards to prevent the lambs from taking 
poison when sucking. To be quite safe we would have the wool 
sufficiently dry to feel certain there is no possibility of poisonous 
moisture trickling down to the udder, and also well sponge the udder 
with warm water before letting in the lambs. It is only late lambs 
that need be kept with the ewes longer, early ones may just as well be 
away, and dipping time is a good one for the weaning. Ewes intended 
for breeding next season then have full three months to recover 
condition, for however well managed there must be some exhaustion 
from suckling a big lamb, often a pair of them. 
June and September are the best months for sheep-dipping, which is 
to be regarded as an indispensable necessity twice a year ; in early 
summer for the reasons indicated, and in early autumn to destroy ticks 
before the cold weather sets in. This ought never to be neglected, both 
for reasons of humanity and economy. With a lot of ticks established 
in the wool, living upon the poor animal’s blood, to get which it fastens 
upon the skin, the state of irritation must be incessant and terrible. 
At times the sheep appear to be almost frantic, rubbing themselves 
vigorously against any hard substance available, while the brutal 
shepherd goes carelessly about, perchance complaining of the ravages of 
foot-rot in the flock, which it is equally in his power to keep under. 
Such a man ought to be sent aoout his business ; but, in all seriousness, 
we may inquire what his master can have been about to suffer such 
negligence 1 Self-interest, to speak of nothing else, ought to induce one 
to see that each important thing affecting the health and comfort of the 
flock has attention in due season. See also that every case of foot-rot is 
treated with gentleness and thoroughness. If there are several cases 
withdraw the patients from the flock, and have them near the home¬ 
stead, where they can have daily attention. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE Day. 
Rain. 
1892. 
May. 
1 Barometer 
1 at32‘',and 
1 Sea Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Inchs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchs. 
Sunday .. 22 
30-024 
57-8 
52-2 
N.E. 
52-7 
66-7 
44-8 
114-6 
38-8 
— 
Monday .. 23 
29-938 
61-8 
54-2 
N. 
52-8 
72-4 
47-1 
119-0 
40-0 
— 
Tuesday .. 24 
-29-947 
64-2 
56-7 
s. 
53-7 
74-3 
52-1 
119-8 
45 3 
0-019 
Wednesday 25 
29-756 
68-8 
60-7 
S. 
55-0 
79-6 
54-4 
123-9 
45-4 
0-736 
Thursday.. 26 
29-848 
59'6 
58-7 
N.E. 
56-2 
78-0 
5o'4 
108-9 
49-1 
0-300 
Friday .. 27 
29.868 
69-6 
62-2 
S W. 
56-8 
76-9 
53-7 
110-7 
55-9 
— 
Saturday .. 28 
29-746 
76-4 
61-3 
E. 
57-3 
82-2 
59-2 
126-1 
53-6 
— 
29-875 
65-5 
68 0 
54-9 
75-4 
53-2 
117-6 
46-6 
1-055 
REMARKS. 
22nd.—Occasional bright sun, but generally hazy and thundery looking ; cloudy in 
afternoon, and a few large spots of rain about 5 P.M. 
23rd.—Sunny early, and occasional sunny intervals during the day, but a good deal of 
cloud. 
24th. Generally sunny and warm, but a good deal of cloud about noon. 
25th. A little thunder and rain about 7.30 A.M., and cloudy, and rather close till about 
11 A.M., then generally sunny. Much lightning and a little thunder from 
9’30 P.M. to midnight. 
26th. Hwvy thunderstorm from 6 to 6 A.M., with 0'30 inch of rain in about fifteen 
minutes, and 0’73 inch up to 9 A.M. ; sunny from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M.; generally 
cloudy and threatening in afternoon, with occasional spots of rain. 
27th. Hwvy rain from 0 A.M. to 1 A.M. : sunny at times in day, but generally overcast. 
23th. Bright, breezy, and hot ; a rapid fall of temperature after 4 P.M. 
A very warm summer week, with several distant thunderstorms on the 25th and 
26th.—G. J. Symons. 
