162 INJURIOUS PRACTICE OF DROVERS. 



parts of England, cattle are fed upon a rich field 

 during the day, and driven to a poor one to pass the 

 night, as a cheap method of manuring. 



This is a somewhat different plan from one which is 

 adopted in many of our states, where it is the practice 

 to let droves of cattle on their way to market, upon 

 good pastures, for a single night, or for an hour or two 

 at noon. They usually get little during the day, and 

 of course fill themselves completely from the pasture, 

 depositing little compared with that which they take 

 away. If they were fed at night with grain, or other 

 rich food, then the practice might not be so injudicious. 

 As generally conducted, however, it tends directly to 

 the impoverishment of the pasture. Every such visit 

 unregulated in any way, withdraws a considerable 

 portion of its material for producing flesh, fat, and 

 bones, and of course deducts to a like extent from its 

 actual value. If the farmer can supply the substances 

 abstracted, for a less sum than the drovers pay him, 

 he may then be justified in continuing the system, but 

 not otherwise. 



