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that animals eat with greater relish, when frequently changed from 

 one field to another, than when they are confined to one. 



As no satisfactory experiments have ever (to my knowlei 

 been recorded on this subject, let us reason a lew mc 

 thereon. 



It is difficult to decide in this case from experiment. Two 

 pieces of land, perfectly alike in quality, or two sets of stock 

 exactly similar cannot easily be found ; we must therefore form 

 our opinion from some other data. The argument made use of 

 by the advocates for change is, " that of giving the food to the 

 cz\\\z fresh and fresh ;" but this seems not to be conclusive. Inde- 

 pendent of the division fence (which occasions a loss of pasturage 

 unfavorable to the small allotments) there must be an equal num- 

 ber of blades of grass in either case, and the cattle may vary their 

 feeding as much in one instance as in the other, for in the large 

 inclosures they will not be seen in the evening where they were 

 feeding in the morning. The grand enquiry is, Do the cattle, or 

 do they not consume more grass in one way than the other. I think 

 they do: and shall not hesitate (though with great diffidence) to 

 give my opinion in favor of a change of food ; and this for the 

 ibllowing reasons : 



When an animal is rnrned into a piece of grass, he takes a sur- 

 vey of the whole field, for the purpose, I presume, of selecting 

 that kind of herbage which best pleases his palate. 



This perambulation does not much injure the grass, for if it 

 be not very rank indeed (and graziers should be careful that it 

 be not so) it will soon rise after the animals tread. He then be- 

 comes contented, and during the time of his abode, feeds in the 

 same manner as he would, were the piece ever so large. After 

 one or two month's residence in a large piece, the animal becomes 

 disgusted with his situation and tired of his food ; the grass is 

 tainted by his breath and by the effluvia of his dung, he bellows 

 for change, and traverses the field, consuming, or rather deftroy- 

 ing, more grass with his feet than with his mouth. 



In ever so large an inclosure (properly stocked) every part of 

 the field is tainted with the breath of the animal some time or 

 other in the course of twenty-fcu; hours, and it is astonishing 

 J^iovv scon they become disgusted ; in changing from field to field 



if 



