54

ON THE LIVE-STOCK

however, are commonly given them without the shed, theformer in hacks or racks, and the hitter strewed over theyard.

The racks are of a very simple construction, consisting offour upright posts standing at right angles, about three feetdistant, connected by two cross rails, and sometimes havinga sparred bottom. Three or four cattle have room to eatround each of them, and they serve to shelter the weak fromthe attacks of the strong. As the yard ought always to bewell littered, there are very few turnips lost by this method,and the cattle are found to thrive better than if they werelaid into a manger or trough, unless constant attention werepaid to keep it very clean •, for, as they are given to youngcattle with tops and tails on, the refuse soon becomes putrid,and the place emits a most disagreeable smell. When theyare spread over a well-littered yard, this refuse is graduallyabsorbed in the general mass. There is reason to believe,also, that cattle will eat in the open air what they refuse inthe house.

"Where only a very few cattle are reared, or when it iswished to use the straw with economy, as is-too often the casein some counties, they are still tied up in the house in thenight, and turned out to the pastures during a part of theday. But this is a practice that cannot be recommended,either on account of the cattle or the land. Young cattlethrive better, and are more hardy, when kept in the open airboth winter and summer, with access to sheds, and sell high-er to the grazier or drover, than such as have been kept inthe house. When they have an allowance of turnips, theyare never turned out at all through the winter, and the landis preserved from being poached in wet weather, which is ofmore importance than any benefit the cattle can receive fromthe pastures at that season. Cattle moderately supplied withturnips seldom drink; but it is certainly proper that theyshould always have access to water, which is therefore gene-rally conveyed into the straw-yard, or raised by a pump. Be-