72 THE FARMER'S MANUAL. 



at the first, in the old way. Should you increase 

 your stock, in this way, beyond the extent of your 

 pasturage, multiply your pasturage, as much as pos- 

 sible, by division fences, (see pasturing,) and convert 

 a part of your clover fields to a temporary pasturage ; 

 this will improve their quality when under tillage 

 again. In a few years, you may derive more profit 

 from the stock only upon your farm in this way, than 

 the whole product yielded before, and a double profit 

 upon your tillage grounds at the same time, together 

 with the aggregate rise upon the value of your farm 

 generally ; in addition to all this, you will live better 

 and much easier ; try it and see. 



I am sensible that it will require some capital to 

 enter largely upon this method of farming ; let this 

 be no bar to the system 5 if you possess the means, 

 enter upon it with spirit and liberality ; its principles 

 .are founded upon the broad basis of common sense 

 and common practice, both in England and America ; 

 it will repay you faithfully and liberally. If your 

 means are small, enter upon it by little and little, as 

 you can proceed without getting into debt, (I here 

 repeat again, farmers must never be in debt.) When 

 you buy stock for your purposes, buy cows ; they will 

 increase your stock with the least expense, and the 

 best, as well as most immediate profit. 



It is a common reflection of our country, upon the 

 general system of bad farming, now in common prac- 

 tice, that we run over a great deal of land, half fenc- 

 ed, half ploughed and half tilled, at great labour, toil 

 and expense, without order, calculation, or method ; 

 and finally, without profit; and that we obstinately 

 persist in this, because our fathers did so before us. 

 The truth of these reflections I acknowledge, and 

 haVe offered a system which will completely correct 

 the error ; but the reflection upon our fathers, I re- 

 sent with spirit and indignation, as both cruel and 

 unjust. Our fathers were the wisest, most virtuous, 

 hardy, industrious, economical and valiant race of 



