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54:6

ON THE ARABLE LAND

produced from cattle fed upon turnips. Experience is in allcases the surest guide; and from trials made by Mr Brownof Markle in 1805, the results have proved so decisively infavour of soiling, in comparison with pasturing, that it hasbeen regularly and extensively continued ever since *. It is,however, unnecessary to extend these observations, as thePresident of the Board, (Sir John Sinclair ), in Part III. ofhis Remarks on the Practical Details of the Scotch Systemof Husbandry, has collected so much information on the sub-ject, of which the following are the results :

1. Cattle feed ns well on cut meat as on pasture, if regular-ly and fully supplied.—2. The saving of grass is consider-able ; though the experiment alluded to was not so conduct-ed as to ascertain its extent with precision, Mr Brown is ofopinion, that it is equal to more than 50 per cent., in otherwords, that a field of clover and rye-grass will fully feed one-half more beasts, when cut by the scythe, than when it is de-pastured.—3. In carrying on the soiling process to advan-tage, it is necessary that the fold-yard or hammels should beconveniently fitted up with shelter sheds and open yards welllittered. — 4. The cattle should always have abundance ofgood water at their command.—5. A careful servant ought tobcentrusted with the management, and to supply fresh food re-gularly at least five times a-day—6. Tares sown at differenttimes, to cut in succession when the clover becomes hard andunpalatable, and to supply the soiling cattle till the clover isready for a second cutting, are indispensable for the advan-tageous management of this excellent system, as the cattlewill make no progress in feeding on clover that is fit for

being made into hay_7. Cattle intended for feeding by the

soiling process ought to be in good condition, otherwise thebest part of the season, or the month of June, when the grassis richest, will be over, before much alteration can be discover-ed.

' Brown’s Treatise on Rural Affairs.