Cult ivation of Grafs Land.*- Stocki?ig Paftures Proportions of for. 479 



ground may confifl of one,two, or a greater number of divifions,not a weed mould 

 be fuffercd to feed, or a tuft of dale grafs to Hand on it ; but once, at lead, in the 

 fummer fcafon be levelled down by the fey the, as by fuch means weeds may be 

 converted into nourifhment, &quot; and wafle ground into after-grafs.&quot; 



The practice of clofe feeding, as recommended above, may, in many cafes, 

 render this unneceffary, and at the fame time afford a fuperior advantage to the 

 farmer. 



The proportions of (lock of different forts that can be properly fupported on any 

 given fpace of paftu re ground muft vary confiderably,according to the natural good- 

 nefs of the foil, the properties of the grafs, and the differences in the fi-zes of the 

 animals. There is likewife another circumflance which thould be attended to 

 which is the length of time the land has been in a flate of fward, as new lays- arc 

 feldom capable of carrying fo much flock on the acre as thofe of the older kinds. 

 It is alfo a point that ought to be attended to, that thefe lays fhould be flocked as 

 much as poflible with fheep. To give any fhtement of the number of animals 

 that may be grazed on the acre would not only be ufelefs, but be liable to lead tha 

 young farmer into error, as it mufl differ fo greatly in the manner that has been 

 juft noticed. Befides, the proportion of different forts of flock that is put upon 

 the grazing lands, in different diflricts, will be feen when we come to fpeak 

 of the manner of feeding or fattening animals at grafs. 



Lands employed for the purpofe of paflure are frequently occupied by flock 

 during the autumn and winter, as well as the fpring and fummer months : it is 

 however, only thofe of the very dry kinds that can be turned upon in the winter 

 feafon, efpecially by heavy cattle ; and it is probably, in all cafes, a much better 

 practice to confine that fort of flock wholly to the fold-yards at fuch feafons, as 

 by fuffering them to be turned upon the paflures there muft be a great lofs in the 

 wafle of manure. 



It has been found an advantageous practice by fome to fhut up their paflures late 

 in the autumn, according to the flate of the grafs and other circum fiances 3 eating 

 them down as clofe and evenly as poffible previous to the flock being removed, and. 

 keeping them perfectly free till they are wanted for ewes and lambs in the early 

 part of the year, or for cattle at a later period, as when the firfl {hoots appear in 

 thefpring, which from being intermixed with thofe of the autumn^ are fuppofed to&amp;gt; 



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