IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS- LANDS. 157 



enclosures, say ten acres, are believed to be better 

 than large ones. Grass grows better when there is 

 no stock upon it than when it is subjected to the 

 constant tread of heavy animals ; hence it is deemed 

 economical to shift cattle occasionally from one en- 

 closure to another. Another advantage of small en- 

 closures is, it enables the farmer to keep different 

 classes of stock separate, and thereby prevent inju- 

 ries, which ofter occur to weaker animals from run- 

 ning with stronger ones. 



" Respecting the stocking of enclosures (we quote 

 from British Husbandry), it is the opinion of the 

 most intelligent graziers, that the cattle fed upon 

 them should be divided in the following manner. 

 Supposing four fields, each containing a nearly equal 

 quantity of land, one of them should be kept entirely 

 free from stock until the grass has got up to its full 

 growth, when the prime or fattening cattle [or the 

 cows, where the dairy is the prominent business] 

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

 the food ; the second best should then follow ; and, 

 after them, either the working or store stock, with 

 lean sheep to eat the pastures close down: thus 

 making the whole of the stock eat over the four en- 

 closures in this succession : 

 No. 1. Clear of stock, and reserved for the fattening 



beasts or cows. 



No. 2. For the fatting beasts till sent to No. 1. 

 No. 3. For the second-best cattle, until forwarded 



successively to Nos. 2 and 1. 

 No. 4. For stores and sheep to follow other cattle, 



then to be shut up until the grass is again 



ready at No. 1 for the fattening beasts," 



p. 482. 



" Land that is constantly mown must also be fre- 

 quently manured, or it will be thrown out of heart." 

 There is no doubt on this point. If the crop is fre- 

 quently carried off, and nothing in the shape of ve- 

 getable matter returned to the soil, the land must and 



