General Rules for Feeding, Ordering, and Fattening Oxen, and Cows, &c.
Though particular Rules in many Cases of this Nature may be wanting, since all Counties have not the conveni∣ency of Feeding alike, it will be therefore necessary, be∣fore I enter on other Matters, to speak something in Gene∣ral, and leave it to the Discretion of the Industrious Hus∣ba••dman, Farmer, or Grasier, viz.
If there be store of good Pasture in the Country where you live, that is the best; but where it is wanting, espe∣cially in the Winter, it will be proper to keep them in the St••lls, or in any good warm Housing-yard, or Pingle, if the Snow lye not thick on the Ground, where you may Fo∣ther them with what your Store affords; where there are plenty of Tares to be had, it is a very good Feed for them, as also short sweet Hay, for the long they cannot so well manage, unless it be cut, or chopped; nor is it so sweet a••d nourishing for this kind of Cattle, if it grow on pro∣portionable ground.
They likewise will feed well on Chaff, and cut Hay al∣most to the smalness: The Leaves and tender Stalks o•• Coleworts they much delight in, as also Turnips, and new Grains; these latter much increase Milk in the Udders of the Cows; and to keep up their Stomachs, give them Lu∣pi••s and Chick-pease sodden in Water, but not very soft, f••r then they will be apt to refuse them, as grown clammy, and sticking about their Teeth and Lips; and when you g••ve them these, mingle them among Chaff, and a few Ears o•• Wheat, and if you can get any wholsome green Branches o•• Trees in the Winter-time, let them brouse on them, and they will cleanse their Blood, and much invigorate them; and these are also proper in Summer, especially the Elm, the Ash, Poplar, Holm, Oak, and Fig-tree: Then, to hasten their Fatning, give them Wheat-Ears, ••apes bruised, Apples, Radish-Leaves and Roots, Meal mixed with Wheat-Chaff, and new Grains, and wash them