Maryland free press., 1862-10-31

careful watching to prevent the stronger and
most vorsclous from driving the wesker and more
timid from their feed, was fully attended to-
Perhaps not but I. attributed my want ofsuccess
to having adopted sysfsa which was liable to,
and tended to these very errors and neglects.-
Had these cattle been ii ed up in the stalls in the
stable, their confinement Of itself would have i'm
pesed " 'watchfuness and attention as q necessity
upon the herdsman, whereas their freedom in the
yard, with perhaps access to some food, rendered
close and punctual attention less absolutely me-
cessary, and habits of irreRularity, postponement
and neglect are in many instaness too apt TO be
the consequence. This is the theory Of my fail
urs in yard feeding. It may not be, and l hope
10 not tras and applicable to all farmers and feed
ers. 1t certainly 10 not to Mr.. Johnston. Hs L.
q man of industry, system and punctusli y
These important qualities are unfortunately found
in but few who aspire to follow him in the impor
tsnt profession which be conspicuously elevates
by both precept and example. l therefore advo-
cate system which from Its nature renders abso-
lutte and imperative the cultivation of habits Cf
industry and punctusity as the price of success,
or iLhumanity and disgrace as the penalty OF LIE
glect.
For the last siI years, having previously failed
in rd-feeding, built another stable for my
COWS, and appropriated my cow stable, under II
large "verjecting rp, to my feeding bulocks.-
My practice 10, towards the clote OF the grazing
season, to iced little meal day in the A.ld
10 the fsttening cattle. From the LIST to the Is h
or 20sh Nov, according TO the season, my fat or
grazed cattle are brought to the stable and tied
up in the stall at night, and fed at first soft corn
or nubbins and hay, altsrnatea occasionally with
fodder. When apples are abundant, l,preter to
start them upon de aged or rotten apples mixed
with their chop, composed of wheat chat and
meal (corn and cob cru.hed.) This opens the
bowels, and puts the cattle in what be nerd dsmen
call good softenirg condition-the skin becomes
loose and glossy, when the feeder ieels coursged
aud assured he has gained an impUr tant point
A well grezsd bullock brought to this condition,
may b. fed with pr, fit /; a lean steer cannot in
my judgment be fattened in winter on grain with
out loss. Ny cattle thus conditioned, are kept
In a stall constantly, except for an hour two
for exercse and water.
IL will thus be sean that my cattle get water
but once : Gay. This am aware is contrary to
the generally received opinion. OF the necessity
and Importance OF frt qutnt watering, but an ex-
psrience of six yenrs has convinced me that in
winter season, cattle will thrive and istten with
water but once day, when their feed is all dry,
w: meal, hay and fodder. In this way i have
brought cattle that would not sell Tor more than
thirty i've forty dollars from grass, up to sixty
five and seventy dollars by the February mat ket.
Toe system of stable eeding over yard feeding
has this ad vantage. First 1t imposss the nscsssty
OF attention. Your cattle must be watched
like the Dutch baker, who being asked tho secret
Of his success in baking good bread, laconcaIIy
replied, Il watch him" Secondly, it conduces
to reposs and quie,ude, the very condition nost
favorable to the secretion of fat. Thirdly, each
animal can consume without molestation aud fear
his own iood aud fourthly, it gives the hercs-
man = tier opportunity to watch the sppe its
aud condition of each bullock, and thus to in
crease or diminish his foed accordiDgly--or a
change of food when necessary. Should you
deem the above worthy place in your valuable
weekly, it is at your service. The writing of it
serves to direct me from this horrible din of war,
raging within sound of my feeding SITS TOR the
last ten or twelve months. When shall this awful
roar of cannon cease, and we aga n learn to love
aud instruct each other in the arts OF peace,
plenty and prosperity
s A Maryland FARMEn.