280 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



but three Cows, and has three acres of the best pasture^ 

 land, he ought to divide this into at least two parts ; so that 

 the one can be growing while the other is feeding. 



Again, if he keep twenty Cows, and has twenty acres of 

 the best pasture, he will find his account in having it di- 

 vided into four parts, and pasturing each enclosure three 

 or four days, alternately. In this way, pasture-lands will 

 keep at least one-fourth more of cattle, and will keep them 

 much better, than if the whole pasture were in one field. 



Not only a change of pasture is beneficial, but a change 

 of different kinds of cattle in the same pastures should be 

 attended to. Thus, let the Milch-cows take the first crop- 

 ing of each field, in rotation ; then the Horses and Oxen, 

 and the Sheep next : In this way, the last feeder will eat 

 murh grass that has been rejected by the former. 



Wet miry spots in pastures should be drained off, either 

 by open or hollow drains ; for, by this mean, the grass in 

 such spots will be doubled in quantity, and much improved 

 in quality. Bushes should be cut out and destroyed; this- 

 tles and other noxious weeds should be mowed down before 

 they go to seed, and every mean taken to eradicate them. 



It is never advisable to pasture lands too closely, particu- 

 larly in the Fall, as this only tends to diminish the quantity 

 the next year. In this respect, it is the same with pastures 

 as with meadows; the closer they are croped the less will 

 be the next year's supply. 



Where the pasture has yielded much feed, there will, of 

 course, be much dung droped : To beat it to pieces, and 

 scatter it over the field, will tend fconstantly to recruit it. 



Sheep require no water in their pastures ; it is also the 

 better opinion, that Calves should have none ; and, generally 

 speaking, that Horses should have little or none, except 

 when they are worked. The effect of this treatment is, that 

 they become habituated to lie by in the heat of the day, and 

 feed at night, when the dew is on the grass, which renders 

 it more nourishing. 



Cows, however, ought to have water; and, where their 

 pastures afford none, the better way is to sink a well at that 

 spot where the pasture-lots corner together ; and then with 

 a little machinery, which will be but a trifle of expense, 

 sufficient of water may usually be raised every day by the 

 winds, for the purpose of filling the troughs as often as 

 they are emptied. The methods of doing this are so simple 

 and easy, that they are hardly necessary to be described. 

 See further, WIND-MACHINERY. 



In place of wells, however, artificial ponds are recom- 

 mended by some. 

 See PONDS. 



