SECRETARY'S REPORT. 81 



ground difficult to work, swamps not easily drained, and soils 

 encumbered with rocks, comprise a large portion of the perma- 

 nent pastures of New England. Besides this, many farmers 

 have been in the habit of cultivating their smoother land as 

 long as it would bear a remunerating crop, applying as little 

 manure as could be got along with, and then laying it down to 

 rye, oats, or barley, so as to get the last ounce of nutriment 

 from the soil. This having been pretty thoroughly accom- 

 plished, a crop or two of hay is taken from it, and the land is 

 then abandoned in a famishing state, for a number of years, to 

 pasture. From land thus treated cattle are expected to derive 

 their support for four or jfive months ; they go to it in lean con- 

 dition in May, and come from it at the end of October, as lean 

 as they went out. 



Some of the more obvious reasons for the decline and waste 

 of pastures, that were originally in good condition as such, 

 may be mentioned, as 



1. Over-stocking. 



2. Turning into the same field every variety of stock, sheep, 

 horses, neat cattle, young and old together, by which the 

 pastures are fed. 



3. Allowing bushes, brambles, and all foul stuff to grow to 

 the destruction of feed, especially of the finer grasses. 



The mere statement of these causes of evil naturally suggests 

 the remedies. Pasture-lands are considered as profitable, 

 paying a large interest on the amount invested, and hence the 

 temptation to crowd into the grazing ground all the farmer's 

 own creatures, and as many on hire as may be offered by 

 others ; this, of course, is done in the spring, without consid- 

 eration of what may be the supply of feed through a dry 

 summer following. If the pasture is newly laid down, this 

 excessive feeding will be lastingly injurious, and under all 

 circumstances is very hurtful. 



The creatures thus depastured may live through the season, 

 but will fail in growth if young, and in flesh if intended for a 

 market. Every beast should be kept in a rapidly growing and 

 fattening condition, whether old or young. If this is not so 

 there is an error somewhere, and it will generally be found in 



the too great number in the field. Pastures should be so 

 11* 



