436 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 9, 1893. 
PROFITABLE LIVE STOCK. 
Many a grazier, struggling under stress of difficulties 
intensified and rendered almost insurmountable by the long 
liot dry summer, would be inclined to question if there is such 
a thing as profitable live stock at the present time. If so, it is 
certain that he has none of it. It is pi'ecisely because of the 
scarcity of stock in this country upon which any profit is 
possible that attention is called to the matter now. Inferior 
stock is plentiful enough, because of the general carelessness 
both in breeding and feeding, and we might add in selection. 
In most instances the fault dates from the very beginning of a 
tenancy, when the difficulty of obtaining really useful animals 
is considered so great that recourse is had to the Michaelmas 
auction sales, where so-called “ bargains ” are plentiful. 
Numbers of inferior animals are got together, costing just as 
much—often a great deal more—to keep, even in healthy con¬ 
dition, as really well-bred stock. Yet a little inquiry would 
enable any farmer to ascertain where better stock could be 
had. In this, as in other matter’s, demand brings supply, and 
it is surely worth while to purchase animals upon which, under 
good management, some profit is a certainty. 
Taking cattle first, we know that while prices for ordinary 
beasts have fallen below any possibility of profit, ripe compact 
animals of moderate size have always had a prompt sale at 
remunerative prices. Said a recent market report, “ The trade 
is overdone with meaty stores,” or beasts about half ripe for 
the butcher. Not only is the metropolitan market g'utted with 
this class of stock (much of it imported), but it is always 
largely in evidence at every provincial market. It is true 
enough that there is money to be made out of “ meaty stores,” 
but it does not go into the pockets of the poor grazier. He 
sells them at a loss ; it is the keen dealer who buys cheaply, 
fattens, and sells at a profit. The beasts come into his hands 
tolerably forward in condition, so that the fattening process is 
as speedy as it is certain. If only the grazier had a little more 
staying power he might do so much better than part with his 
stores just when they are ready to “pay” for high feeding. 
That the general practice in this matter is radically wrong is 
certain, yet there is no mystery about the right way ; it is 
summed up in very few words. Have only well-bred cattle; 
either a pure breed or a good ci’oss breed. Keep on the calf 
flesh, keep up condition always, but avoid the rash and ex¬ 
travagant forcing which involves the risk of heavy losses from 
apoplexy. Give equal attention to shelter and to a sound 
wholesome dietary. Let there be no exposure to heavy rain 
or cold cutting wind, no lying down on sodden litter, no 
inhaling foul air. Let the dietary be mixed wholesome, a wise 
combination of bulk with nutriment, preferably of home-grown 
produce—hay, silage, straw, corn, roots, green fodder, afford a 
sufficient range for a most nourishing dietary. Have no feeding 
by line and lule, know your cat'le individually, be much among 
them, understand the requirements and temperament of every 
one of them, and then wise discretion and sound judgment will 
guide weight and measure in the feeding. See that the water 
is pure, that crib and manger are clean. Allow no brutality; 
hindly. gentle treatment is all important apart from any mere 
sentimental feelings. When the autumnal growth of herbage 
on pastures is consumed, get the beasts settled for the winter in 
yards with broad commodious hovels. In doing this place the 
more forward larger animals together separate from the others ; 
if large and small, weak and strong, are turned in together, the 
weaker literally go to the wall. We have seen them driven out 
of the hovels into the open yard, where they remain afraid to 
venture inside again. This often happens at nights with fatal 
results if rough weather prevails. The frightened animals will 
get what shelter is possible from the yard enclosures, but the 
standing there for hours, very likely in several inches of water, 
with rain or snow falling upon them, and gusts of wind sweeping 
round the yard, has led to colds, husk, consumption, and eventu¬ 
ally the loss of many a valuable beast. 
Worse than this is the battle for life going on every winter 
among cattle in open pastures, without shelter of any sort but 
the hedgerows, and with very short commons indeed. They 
have in the way of food to clear up the fog, which at best is 
a mixture of brown, dry, or decayed herbage and green growth, all 
sadly innutritions. A little hay is thrown about the pasture, 
forming a dietary barely sufficient to sustain vital heat. The 
famished beasts lose flesh so fast, and the strain upon them is 
so severe and prolonged, that it is wonderful to find so many 
of them surviving an ordeal which is alike cruel to them and 
ruinous to their owners. 
WOEK ON THE HOME FARM. 
With Mangolds already up to 303. a ton, a full root crop is some¬ 
thing to be proud of this autumn. Let there be no more delay in 
getting them off the land into clamps, made by a road at points easy of 
access ; a long ridge 10 or 12 feet wide at base, and 6 or 8 feet 
in height, answers best. Cover thickly with litter, over which place 
soil sufficiently thick to keep out frost, leaving air vents made with 
2-inch drain pipes along the ridge. Treat early sown Swedes in a 
similar manner, or place them in small circular heaps in fields where 
sheep folding is to be done. Such folds on upland pasture are now in 
full action, and we have seen some good practice this month in folding 
a late growth on Clover layers, with the ploughs and drills following 
closely for Wheat. 
Never was there better weather for winter corn sowing, and all other 
autumn sown crops. Glad were we recently to hear a keen discussion 
in a provincial market train, of the respective merits of Vetches, Rye, 
Coleseed, and Cabbage. Plenty of such and other green fodder crops 
to use with corn and relieve the pasture, are wanted everywhere. The 
dictum of Professor Wrightson that the great secret of successful farm¬ 
ing is to make stock pay, and the corn will then take care of itself, is 
sound enough. Let work on the home farm at this season of the year 
tend that way, by judicious sheep folding, by careful tending of stock 
in cow, cattle yard, stable, and piggery. At farms generally the 
judicious production of milk, butter, cheese, pork, poultry, eggs, should 
all tend to profit now. Pullets selected from several broods in spring 
are giving a supply of eggs now that is invaluable. In this highly 
important manner it is just a question of timely selection, of number and 
also of breeds. We have had an excellent supply of winter eggs from 
white and coloured Dorkings, from cross-bred fowls and others, but 
never from those misnamed everlasting layers, the Hamburghs. It 
should not be forgotten that a warm poultry house must be had for 
winter layers, and they must be well fed. Let them also have a cosy 
dusting place, shut in from cold winds, but so placed as to catch every 
ray of winter sunshine. Warmth, shelter, and good food tell, and are 
indispensable. _ 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Oamden Square. London. 
Lat.51° 32'40'' N. : Loa?. 0'^ 8'0" W.; Altitude. Ill feet 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
In the Day. 
1 Bain. 
1893. 
October 
and 
November. 
1 Barometer 
1 at 32'^, 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. 
luchs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchs. 
Sunday .. 
29 
29-806 
50-6 
46-0 
S.W. 
49-6 
56-7 
46-8 
88-9 
42-5 
0 010 
Monday .. 
30 
29-898 
41-9 
39-2 
N. 
48-9 
48-7 
37-1 
84-9 
34-0 
— 
Tuesday .. 
31 
30-126 
34-4 
32-2 
N. 
46-2 
44-2 
30-9 
77-8 
27-2 
— 
W ednesday 
1 
30-009 
38-4 
33-3 
S.W. 
44-1 
49-6 
27-8 
60-1 
26 0 
0-254 
Thursday.. 
2 
29-687 
47-3 
47-1 
S.W. 
45-1 
52-2 
41-9 
63-0 
35-8 
0-012 
Friday 
3 
29-941 
48-7 
47-4 
S.W. 
46-0 
59-8 
42-8 
83-0 
38-4 
— 
Saturday .. 
4 
29^881 
53-8 
51-9 
S.W. 
47-9 
55-8 
48-3 
64-2 
47-2 
C-020 
29-907 
45-0 
42-4 
46-8 
52-4 
39-4 
74-6 
35-9 
0 296 
REMARKS. 
29th.—Brilliant morning; occasional cloud in afternoon; overcast evening. 
30th.—Almost cloudless throughout. 
31st.—Cloudless almost throughout but some detached cumulus at midday. 
1st.—Overcast till 3.45 r.M. ; slight rain at intervals after. 
2nd.—Continuous rain from 3.30 a.m. to 9 A.M. ; occasional drizzle in morning; over¬ 
cast afternoon and night. 
3rd.—Pine about sunrise; overcast and dull from 8 A.M. to noon; frequent bright 
sunshine after 1.30 1>.M. 
4th.—Bright early; overcast from 9 A.M., frequent drizzle from 10.30 A.M , and rain 
from 0.30 to 1.30 p.m. ; and overcast after. 
At last we have a slightly cool week, not a cold one, but one slightly below the 
average, of which there have been very few since January.—G. J. SYMONS 
