430 On Grass Land. 



12. On Tethering Stock, or Hurdling them. 



In some districts of Scotland and Ireland, instead of soil- 

 ing, they tether their stock upon the land ( 36? ). 



In the Agricultural Report of Aberdeenshire, it is stated, 

 that there are some cases, where the plan of tethering, can 

 be practised with more profit than even soiling. In the 

 neighbourhood of Peterhead, for instance, they tether milch- 

 cows on their grass fields, in a regular and systematic me- 

 thod ; moving each tether forward in a straight line, not 

 above one foot at a time, so as to prevent the cows from 

 treading on the grass that is to be eaten ; care being always 

 taken, to move the tether forward, like a person cutting clo- 

 ver with a scythe, from one end of the field to the other. 

 In this way, a greater number of cows can be kept, on the 

 same quantity of grass, than by any other plan, except 

 where it grows high enough to be cut, and given them green 

 in houses. In one instance, the system was carried to great 

 perfection, by a gentleman who kept a few sheep upon long- 

 er tethers, following the cows. Sometimes also, he tether- 

 ed horses afterwards upon the same field, which prevented 

 any possible waste, for the tufts of grass produced by the 

 dung of one species of animal, will be eaten by those of an- 

 other kind, without reluctance. This system was peculiar- 

 ly calculated for the cow-feeders in Peterhead ; as, from the 

 smallness of their holdings, they could not afford to keep 

 servants to cut, or horses to carry home the grass to their 

 houses, to be consumed in a green state ( 368 ). 



In Ireland, the plan of tethering stock, is strongly recom- 

 mended, in preference to that of promiscuous pasturage, 

 even though accompanied by a herdsman, or keeper. It 

 is there observed, that both cattle and sheep must thrive 

 better, and feed faster, when they have a fresh bite of grass 

 regularly given them, than when they are permitted to 

 wander over a whole field. This is effectually done, when 

 they are not allowed to range indiscriminately over pasture 

 lands, destroying more than they consume, but when each 

 animal is secured by a tether, to the spot on which he is al- 

 lowed to feed. By changing this spot, he is enticed to eat, 

 from having a clean and fresh bite, perhaps twice a-day, 

 given him. He does not acquire rambling habits, which 

 exhaust his strength, and prevent his fattening ; but be- 

 coming docile, he necessarily thrives much better. The 

 pasture also is improved, for the young grass is not bit off 



