246 GRAZING CATTLE DISEASES 



not to be numerous) even five guineas per acre. The extent 

 of this land is not great, and much of it is annually let by 

 auction. It is found in Leicester, Nottingham, Somerset 

 (the marshes), in the Lincoln and Cambridgeshire Fen land, 

 over parts of the Old Red Sandstone of Herefordshire, and in 

 many small areas along the banks of rivers. These pastures 

 are capable of feeding large bullocks without cake, and 

 often an area less than an acre per bullock is sufficient. 

 Sometimes an extra sheep per acre is put on. Sheep eat 

 numerous weedy plants in pasture which cattle reject for 

 example, ragwort, Seneciojacobcea; knapweed, Centaurea nigra; 

 and oxeye daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum. Cattle do not 

 thrive nearly so well on pasture of superior quality if sheep 

 are kept on it during winter, as they eat out some of the 

 finer grasses. The grass season in England is from about 

 ist May till the beginning of November. At first, if the 

 growth of grass be backward, a little hay may be given with 

 advantage. Thistles, nettles, and all large weeds should be 

 cut regularly before seeding, and tufts of coarse grass also 

 mown. Dung can be either spread on very good pasture or, 

 better, carried off to prevent the growth of dark green 

 "tathy" patches. It is considered a sign of good land to 

 have a perfectly even surface, and a very close cover, which 

 should not be allowed to become too long. Very fine pasture 

 has often a velvety feeling under foot Two lots of cattle can 

 be made prime fat on the same land in one season the first 

 going off by the first and second weeks of July, having gained, 

 without receiving cake, 8 or 9 stones of beef. The land is 

 allowed to clean by resting for ten days. 



The second lot of cattle, not being so far forward or so 

 good in spring as the first, would, while the best cattle 

 occupied the best pasture, be kept on pasture slightly in- 

 ferior to it. These require a few pounds of cake, as the grass 

 begins to fall off in quality at the end of September and in 

 October. Some graziers think it pays to give cake to cattle 

 even on the best pasture throughout the whole season, but 

 this must entirely depend upon the rent of the pasture and 

 the relative prices of cake and beef. 



A few rough beasts (perhaps one for every four or five 

 acres) kept to clear off rough grass, run out all winter, and do 

 remarkably well, if sheltered from cold winds, and if 2 or 3 



