262 MAY. 



in the manner most agreeable to themselves ; and 

 \ve may in general observe, that the sagacious ani- 

 mals, when left to their own conduct, manage such 

 points better than we can for them. As to the 

 treading and spoiling, it is an equal objection to 

 both methods ; the legs of the beasts are not tied in 

 small closes any more than in large ones. In ease 

 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 pas- 

 turing : 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 

 'ft dog may effect in one enclosure 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 propor- 

 tioned 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 by a waste of food. 



There 



