FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 359 



are very encouraging. In some of their agricultural publi- 

 cations, mention is made of prodigious prices being given 

 for certain animals of superior breed ; such as a Bull, of 

 Mr. Paget) having been sold in the year 1793 for four hun- 

 dred guineas; Heifers belonging to him, for eighty-lour 

 guineas a piece; and Ewes, for sixty four guineas a piece. 

 In Monk's Agricultural Dictionary, there is also mention 

 made of a Mr. Richard Ashley having Swine, the Boars of 

 which he let to Sows at half-a-guinea each ; and of a Mr. 

 Bishofi, who sold his Pigs, at weaning time, lor two guineas 

 a piece. Such examples might also be produced here, if 

 the requisite pains were taken; and the profits attending 

 them are surely sufficient to gratify even avarice itself. 



Above all, let the Farmer keep no greater stock than he 

 can support well. The half of any given number of cattle, 

 where they are well kept, will always be found to yield as 

 much clear profit to the Owner, as the whole when kept in 

 poor condition. Poor keeping also learns cattle to be un- 

 ruly; and when they have learned this eff< ctuallyi they only 

 prove a bill of expense, instead of an article of profit, to 

 the Owner. 



STONES. Where arable lands particularly abound with 

 these, no good culture can be carried on. The first step 

 then is to clear such lands of the stones, and let this be 

 done effectually ; carrying off the small ones and diging 

 out the large ones, so that there be no obstructions to the 

 plough. 



Some lands may indeed be too stony to be cleared of 

 them to any present advantage. Let such be left to the 

 prowess of future generations; they will undoubtedly find 

 their account in clearing such, and find use for the stones. 

 If they be not all wanted for fences, buildings, &c, they 

 may be found useful in making hollow-drains, &c. 



If stones be very badly shapen, so that they will not lie 

 in a wall, perhaps the better way may be to throw them 

 aside, and make hedge-fences; but if they be chiefly well 

 shaped, let them be made into walls ; for these, if properly 

 made, will last an age, with some trifling repairs. The best 

 method of making these is to dig a trench, where the wall 

 is to be made, to the depth of about eighteen inches ; into 

 this throw all the small and bad-shaped stones, until the 

 trench is filled ; then on the top of these build the wall, in 

 a mason-like manner, to the height of about five feet, and 

 throw the earth dug out of the trench up against the wall 

 on each side ; and in this way it will stand for a length of 

 time beyond the memory of Man. If a trench be not dug 

 in this manner, the next best method is to plough deep 



