when kept in this manner, as when kept by feeding in the pastures, which, however, is in perfect contradiction to all experience, as will be fully seen below. It is well known, from actual trials, that almost every one of the various sorts of green that have been cut by the scythe, and made use of in this manner, have more full and lasting effects in exciting and promoting the secretion of milk, than the common pasture-grasses. Yet, as there may be some sorts of plant and vegetable productions as well as other matters that may have a more powerful action on some of the glandular or secreting organs of such animals than others, it is not improbable that there may be some kinds of such plants and vegetables that may have a greater effect and more continued influence in promoting this kind of secretion than those of other sorts, so that cows fed on one kind of such food, in this management, may give less milk than when supported in the same way on other sorts; which is also the case in feeding them on common mown grass, and grass of the tare, clover, and other such kinds.

It has been suggested likewise, that this method may be less proper than that of the pasture support of the cattle, in consequence of their feeding or eating the food in a more imperfect manner from their being confined, and wanting the more full and open air, as well as exercise in the field, but where there are proper yards and other suitable contrivances for the pose, nothing of the sort need take place in this mode of feeding, as they ought not by any means to be constantly kept tied or shut up in a close manner.

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There are, therefore, no solid reasons of any kind which can in the least effect the propriety and great utility of the soiling method of feeding, keeping, and management of neat cattle, but it has much to recom

mend it in the preventing of waste and in making grass land go farther in the supporting of such stock, which are considerations of great consequence in the providing for such animals.

The great superiority of this practice in saving which it produces in the consumption of the food cannot be questioned, as the various extensive trials that have taken place fully prove that it is by such means made to go from two to four or five times as far as when eaten off on the land, and in some cases much more; and in different other trials with natural grass, lucerne, tares, and clover, they have been found, in this mode of use, to be capable of supporting from three to five or six times as many neat cattle in better and more full condition than in the pasture manner of feeding them; and it has been remarked, that in this last method, great waste and destruction must often necessarily be caused by the grass being so much trampled upon, trodden down, dunged on, and in other ways, especially where the quantity of cattle fed together is large; and that of course most or all of such sorts of waste are prevented in this method of proceeding. Besides, the poaching and injury to the land in that way, which is often very great, is in this wholly avoided.

It is not, however, to be supposed that all the waste is by pasture-feeding, and none at all in this way; as by soiling some little waste is occasionally incurred in different manners, as in tare crops that have become podded on account of the bottom parts of them getting course, sticky, or in a state of decay, in consequence of their resting so much on the ground, and thereby become rejected by the stock, and the same with lucerne when in full flower, as well as with some other plants of such kinds. There is occasionally loss too

in the heating of the food or grassy matters when heaped together in the carts or other places, if suffered to remain in such situations too long, and in some other ways of still less consequence; yet whatever such waste may be, it is clear, from much experience, that soiling is beneficial in better supporting stock in the proportions already stated, and according to the nature of circumstances.

EXCELLENCE AND UTILITY OF THE PRACTICE IN PRODUCING MANURE.

Another circumstance in which this management in keeping neat cattle stock has a great advantage over that of the pasture method, is that of the very large quantity of good manure which it is capable of raising and providing when well and properly executed, on which the increased culture of many sorts of crops, and the extended improvement of tillage as well as grass lands, materially depends. In the usual mode of pasture-feeding everything of this is dissipated, wasted, and lost, by many different causes, and is rather injurious than useful to the land where it is deposited. The method by soiling, on the contrary, is extremely and particularly well contrived for the production of this material in an abundant manner. The increase in the quantity of the urinary and other discharges of the animals, the extent of litter capable of being employed, and the materials which are scattered over the yards and other places, are readily and easily changed, and reduced into manure of a very useful kind; and by such means, with proper care and management, the most plentiful supplies of such manure may be procured, where in other methods there would

be none at all, which is a point of particular importance in favour of this sort of management. It is not improbable, but that by such means the summer produce in manure may be made to equal, if not exceed, that of the winter supply, and at the same time surpass it much in quality, as there is reason for supposing, that the manure supplied by any sort of neat or other cattle when fed in this way, if not in the state of fattening, is much better and more rich in its properties in the summer months than in those of the winter, as abounding more in ammonia, mucilaginous, and rich animalized vegetable matters. The quantities of such excellent manure, as with sufficient care, may be raised in this manner, in some cases, is hardly to be conceived, except by those who have been largely in the practice of it. With a view to the more effectual and ready decomposition and conversion of the littery matters into manure, it is of much consequence to have proper receiving places for the urine and other liquids, which should be frequently thrown over them in the cool of the day. In this way much benefit is often produced, and such liquids prevented from being evaporated and lost. In particular instances four large waggon-loads of dung perfectly rotten, or more, have been made from one cow in the season in such practice.

In order to gain and ensure the greatest possible benefit from this practice, it is, however, necessary to have a very nice and strict regard to several points and circumstances in the management; such as those of having perfectly suitable, proper, and convenient buildings and yards for the purpose, providing necessary and proper crops in due succession, and in suitable extent to the proportion of stock that is kept; the foddering, cleaning, and managing the animals in

a regular and proper manner, and the fully providing of different substances for use, as litter in the houses and yards; suitable directions for each of which are given below, under their proper heads,

PROPER BUILDINGS, YARDS, AND OTHER CONVENIENCES FOR THIS PURPOSE.

As much in what respects the economy of labour in føddering and supplying the cattle with different matters, and in the forming and preparing the manure in the best and most extensive manner in this practice, depends on the buildings and yards which are made use of in the business; it is necessary that they should be properly and suitably formed, and have all the conveniences and advantages possible in their plans and arrangements. Above all, it is essential to have well and suitably-formed open or close shed buildings, with properly sized divisions in them for tying up and containing the animals while eating their food; proper racks, cribs, and boxes, being fixed in them for the purpose. The yards should be immediately connected with them, and so designed as that a large portion of them may be laid over with littering matters, having proper floors for the purpose; and the other parts should gently shelve or incline to a watering pond or place. By such means and contrivances, every facility and advantage may be gained in conducting and carrying on such business.

Some persons, however, to save the expense of time and labour in clearing and removing the dirt and filth caused by this method, leave the cattle wholly loose in the yards, so as to eat their food from racks or cribs without any shed, the bottom of such yards being pre