MANAGEMENT OP GRASS LANDS. 269 



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 keeps twenty cows, and has twenty 

 acres of the best pasture, he will find his reward in having it 

 divided into four parts, and pasturing each enclosure three or 

 four days alternately. In this way pasture land will keep at 

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

 if the pasture were in one field. Not only a change of pasture 

 is beneficial, but a change of different kinds of cattle, in the 

 same pasture, should be attended to. Thus let the milch cows 

 take the first cropping of each field in rotation, then the horses 

 and oxen, and the sheep next. In this way the last feeder will 

 eat much grass that has been rejected by the former.'* 



Pastures should never be overstocked; that is, there should 

 always be a sufficient quantity of food for the animals. It is 

 also desirable that the large and strong cattle be separated from 

 the weaker ones, as it frequently happens that where they are 

 indiscriminately mingled together, the more powerful beasts 

 will master the others, driving them from place to place, and 

 trampling upon and destroying more food than they can eat. 

 To prevent these inconveniences, and also to stock the land to 

 the greatest advantage, the Complete Grazier recommends the 

 following method of feeding and fattening cattle. 



Suppose there are four enclosures, one ought to be kept perfectly free from 

 stock till the grass is in its full growth, when the prime or fattening cattle 

 should be put into it, that they may get the best food the second best should 

 then follow, and the young stock after all, making the whole feed over the four 

 enclosures in the following succession: 1. Free from stock, till ready for the 

 best cattle. 2. For the reception of the best cattle, till sent to No. 1. 3. For 

 the second best cattle, till sent to No. 2. 4. For the young cattle, till sent to 

 No. 3. Thus the fourth enclosure is kept free from stock till the grass is got 

 up, and it is ready for the prime cattle. To which we will add that the enclo- 

 sures should be finally gone over by sheep, by which they will be eaten down, 

 to a close and even sward, to the great benefit of the after growth. 



Fattening cattle will cull the choicest parts of the grass, 

 when this system is adopted, and advance rapidly towards a 

 state of maturity for they should always have a full bite of 

 short sweet grass; and with such cattle the utmost care must 

 be taken not to overstock the enclosures an evil of too fre- 

 quent occurrence. A sub-division of enclosures by hurdles 

 has been recommended. We have already referred to the sub- 

 ject of shelter shade and pure water are essentially necessary 

 indeed they are indispensable to the thrift and comfort of 

 the stock. Where there are no trees, rubbing posts should be 

 set up to prevent the cattle making use of the gates and fences 

 for that purpose, by which they frequently are injured. 



In the management of land kept in pasture, no manuring is 

 required to maintain its fertility, which will be increased and 

 23* 



