THE FARMER'S MANUAL* 67 



Pasture grounds and Fencing. 



These articles are of high importance in good form- 

 ing ; but perhaps of the smallest consideration in the 

 estimation of the American farmer. If ten, fifteen, or 

 twenty acres of rough, half-fenced, undrained, or dry 

 and unwatered pastures, were, by clearing, draining, 

 watering and fencing, rendered as productive as one 

 hundred acres now are, in their present neglected state ; 

 80, 85, or 90 acres of the remainder might either be 

 applied to tillage, with advantage, or bring an addi- 

 tional revenue in the sam ratio, if continued in pas- 

 ture ; both by the increased number, and value of the 

 stock they would feed. 



Fencing is a certain ratio of expense, rent and inter- 

 est, the farmer pays for the use of his lands. If the pro- 

 fits upon an acre of ground, exclusive of the expense of 

 tillage, give $ 24, and it costs the farmer $ 6 per annum 

 to maintain the fence ; then his clear profit will be $ 1 8 ; 

 but if with the same expense of fencing, his field brings 

 him but , $ 12 clear upon his tillage, he then gains 

 but $ 6 ;' this is paying interest with a witness. If he 

 neglects his fencing, his whole crops, however va- 

 luable, may be destroyed ; this is sinking both princi- 

 pal and interest ; therefore, enclose no more land than 

 you can both fence and improve well. 



Would you make the most of your farm, apportion as 

 small a part as possible to pasture, and multiply the va- 

 lue of this, by intersecting it with cross-fences into as 

 many enclosures, of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 10 acres each, 

 as may be found best, according to the situation and 

 size of your farm, and the number of your stock ; and 

 according to the situation of your brooks, springs, or 

 other conveniences for watering; thus you may mul- 



a double mould-board would answer well,) and earth up your corn 

 on the ridges with the hoe, the roo4s of your corn will extend upon 

 the ridges unbroken by the plough, and derive the greatest possible 

 benefit from your manure ; the labour will be less, and the crop much 

 better than iu the usual mode of ploughing across the ridges. 



