,548 Cultivation of Grafs Land. Grazing. Animals proper for. Cattle. 



muft take care to proportion the fize of their beafts to the goodnefs of their paf~ 

 tures ; their cattle had much better be too fmall than too large; there are vaft 

 tracts of 4and that will anfvver well in grazing, which are not good enough to fup~ 

 port large breeds.&quot;* 



The fame thing, probably, holds good in a great meafure with refpect to flieep. 



Where the flock is bred upon the land, there will be little difficulty in fixing 

 upon fuch animals as are the mod fuitable in thefe different intentions ; but as it 

 will frequently be necefTary for the farmer to purchafe his flock at fairs and other 

 places, much care and attention, as well as knowledge, will be requifite for him to 

 do it in the moft advantageous manner. It is of great importance in this bulinefs 

 to provide fuch as have been kept in a proper manner, and are in a healthy, thriving 

 condition, as, where the contrary is the cafe, they are difficult, and require a much 

 greater length of time, to be brought into the flate proper for fale than would 

 otherwife have been necefTary. It is perhaps experience alone that can qualify the 

 grazier to form a correct judgment in thefe refpects : in general, however, he is 

 led to the choice of flock by no fixed or fcientific principles, but by the impreflion 

 the appearance of the animals have upon him. It has been obferved that the 

 experienced grazier, who has been accuftomed to attend fairs and markets, knows 

 at fight, or by the afliflance of the flightefl touch, whether the animals he is about 

 to purchafe will fuit him. Their general form and looks pleafe him. They are 

 every where clean ,- have little offal about them ; their eyes are full and vivid j their 

 countenances brifk ; their fkins alive, and their flefh mellow. On the whole, they 

 have the refemblance of thofe which have been grazed before with fuccefs. Others 

 are rejected, from the grazier not having found any fuch as they referable to have 

 done wellr-but many to have turned out in an unprofitable manner.f 



There are, however, principles in this branch of the farmer s bufinefs which 

 may be attended to with great advantage, as the animals have certain points or 

 parts, the proper or improper forms of which denote them to be valuable or the 

 contrary for this purpofe. Thefe are, that the legs fhould be fhort in proportion 

 to the fize of the animal ; the back very flraight, broad and flat ; the loins wide $ 

 the carcafe deep, round, or rather barrel-fliapcd below ; the fore-quarters round, 

 full, and fp reading ; the bones fmall ,- the flefh affording an elaflic feel ; the Ikin 



* Annals of Agriculture, vol. XXX II* 

 r Marshall s llural Economy of Midland Counties, vol. I a 



