MAY.] CATTLE IN GRASS. 253 



111 case all the smaller pieces have not water, the 

 objections to feeding them separate are much 

 greater. 



On the other hand, it must be admitted that 

 there are disadvantages attending this way of 

 pasturing : for a time the trampling may be 

 greater, as cattle are disposed to beat a sort of 

 march around their fields on first turning in, and 

 also on some kinds of disturbance : but a greater 

 evil is that of disturbing a large herd instead of 

 a small one : this a dog may effect in one inclo- 

 sure unseen from others, and consequently the 

 stock in them left without interruption ; and, 

 perhaps, a motive greater than this is, its having 

 been observed that cattle, and sheep also, do better 

 when well proportioned to their pasture, when 

 divided into small lots rather than large ones. 



In the stocking grass-lands, the farmer should 

 attend well to the proportion between his stock 

 and the quantity of his feed. Let him remember 

 when he stocks his grounds, that he should be 

 pretty nice in this proportion ; for if he overstocks, 

 his loss will be certain and great ; and, if he does 

 not throw in as many cattle as he ought, then he 

 will suffer in his profit. 



There are several divisions in fattening : to buy 

 in beasts in October or November, and put them 

 to straw till the end of February ; then to begin 

 their fatting on turnips, and continue it in 

 March ; thence to the middle of May on other 

 food, and then to turn to grass, and kill in August 



or 



