Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/495

Rh effect of management, and evinces the superiority of his mode of breeding. While we admire and acknowledge its excellence, we cannot but advert to the mischief which is frequently done by horned cattle, and doubtless arises from very contrary practices. Such injurious consequences, however, might be prevented by tipping, that is, by sawing off the points of the horns of cows, bulls, and oxen, and fixing on them small knobs of wood, about three inches in diameter; then boring a hole through the horn and wood, and clinching a nail on the opposite side. Although, by this precaution, the horns are in a manner despoiled of their beauty, yet, when compared with the advantage resulting from it, this trifling loss cannot be regretted.

Concerning that fatal disorder, the , Mr. was particularly attentive to its origin and progress: he found, from experience, that it was generated solely by floods. When, therefore, particular parcels of his best breed were past service, he fattened them for the butcher; and to be certain that they would be killed, and not go into other hands, he used "to rot them" before they were sold. This singular practice appears to have been the offspring of jealousy: it was effected by overflowing a pasture, or meadow, in summer; as the soil thus inundated inevitably rots all the sheep that feed on it, the succeeding autumn.

In the breeding of stallions for obtaining cart-horses, Mr. was also particularly successful; by observing the same rules of proportion as we have mentioned under the article ";" and making them in like manner docile and gentle. His economical plan of feeding the latter with turnips, cannot be sufficiently recommended to every industrious breeder. All these roots were carted to the stalls, by which one acre went as far as three. With respect to the saving of straw, he observed similar care; for, by giving it to his lean beasts in small quantities, he preserved their appetite sufficiently keen to make them eat clean, and thus prevented an unnecessary waste for litter; which is but too prevalent among agriculturists. Nor was his hay consumed in a careless and extravagant manner; the same economical management that was conspicuous in other departments of his agricultural concerns, also prevailed here; and the measures he pursued, to ensure as large a quantity as possible at all seasons, display an ingenuity and spirit of husbandry that rarely occur. This great object was effected by watering his meadows (which were situated near a small brook), by means of cuts that intersect them, and convey water to those parts which are at a distance from the brook; and by making others for carrying off the water, after it had flowed the land. These various works, which were completed at a considerable expence, notwithstanding the disdain and censure of his neighbours, enabled Mr. to float from sixty to eighty acres of land at pleasure; and he found his labours crowned with the most ample success; as no other annual manuring was required. Instead of thistles, ridges, furrows, holes, hills, &c. that are a disgrace to any farmer, those ciumning meadows present fine level