On Grass Land. 425 



it appears ( 354 ) that it may safely be stated as one to three, 

 an advantage which of itself is sufficient to recommend the 

 practice, to the attention of the industrious and intelligent 

 farmer* 



2. Advantages to the Fence&~- Where stock are stall-fed, 

 fences are not so necessary, and in this way there may be a 

 saving of land, and a diminution of expenditure. But if the 

 same fences were to be kept up, they are not so liable to in- 

 jury from the stock maintained, nor from the carelessness 

 of those who are employed to catch them. 



3. Saving of Food. Animals destroy in various ways the 

 pasturage on which they feed. A considerable portion is 

 rendered useless by being trodden, or by receiving the ex- 

 crements of cattle, while the pressure experienced when the 

 animals lie down to rest, is productive of a greater or less 

 degree of injury* Large quantities of the grass also are left 

 to shoot up into long stalks, and are thus comparatively ren- 

 dered useless. On the whole, the waste is very consider- 

 able, and augments in proportion to the richness and pro- 

 ductiveness of the soil* 



4 The Improvement of Stock. This advantage is appli- 

 cable to all the different sorts of stock, more especially in 

 dry seasons, when pastures are apt to fail. 



Working horses or oxen, derive great benefit from soil- 

 ing. They are saved the trouble of collecting their food, 

 after their work is over, and run no risk from noxious vege- 

 tables, or unwholesome water. They can fill themselves 

 much sooner, and consequently have more time for rest; 

 and they can take their repose much better, in a stable or 

 shed, with plenty of litter, than in fin open field, where there 

 are so many things to annoy them. 



The experiments of soiling cattle, have been eminently 

 successful. Young steers become more tractable for work ; 

 and are exempted from many accidents and disorders to 

 which they are otherwise liable. The size and the symme- 

 try also, to which cattle may be brought, when thus kept 

 constantly sheltered, in a progressive state of improvement, 

 without receiving any check whatever, justify the idea, that 

 such stock, will surpass those exposed to the vicissitudes of 

 climate, and other inconveniences inseparable from the graz- 

 ing system, though pastured on fields of the richest and most 

 luxuriant herbage ( 355 ). 



Sheep also, will thrive when fed in houses, if their hoofs 

 are attended to, while their wool is much improved in 

 quality, (not being exposed to the extremities of either heat 



