REARING CALVES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2049, 17 September 1880, Page 2

REARING CALVES.

A writer in the "Agricultural Gazette" girea his experience as follows upon this subject:—" The calves are taken from the dams at birth, and about two tablcepoonfuls of castor oil are given between the first and second meals. The quantity of castor oil is regulated by the size and strength of the calf. Two table^poonfuls is tbe maximum dose, and it is held that it helps the first meal to digest, and cleanses the stomach. A pint of new milk is given twice a day until about the fourth or fifth day, when tha quantity is increased to a quart night and morning. The allowance is gradually enlarged up to two months old, when the quantity given will be about four quarts of new milk each end of the day at milking times. About this age the milk is supplemented by ft handful of oilcake and bran mixed, or oilcake and crushed barley or peameal, just as the calves show the most preference for, or, for change of food, with sliced turnips. The full quantity of eight quarts of mUk per day i» kspt up. Small quantities of hay are also given, the quantity of food being always regulated by the appetite of the calf. Up to six months the quantity of milk is gradually decreased, and the weight of oilcake gradually increased to about 21b each calf per day, mixed with peameal, bran, or crushed barley; also oilcake and peameal gruel, mixed up with gruel made from Simpson's patent calf meal. The calves are very fond of the latter, and thrive well upon it. From six months the quantity of oilcake is reduced, and sliced turnips, hay, straw, &3., are given. The practice here is not to rigidly adhere to any specific diet. Galves are variable in their appetites, and if thoy are observed not to be thriving, or not clearing up their food, a change is tried. The same supervision also regulates the quantities and care is taken not to plucs more food in the boxes than tbe calves consume. On this farm the young stock are noted for their quick thriving, and they are usually dams at about two years and a half old. They are kept in enclosed buildings." Depth to Sow Wheat.—A great deal has been said first and lust as to the depth at which to sow wheat, remarks the "Prairie Farmer." Experiments have shown that upon ordinarily compact and mcist soil wheat germinates most promptly, and produces the strongest plant when sown at a depth not exceeding 1 inch, from thence up to 6 inches it came more and mora feebly.