The Shepherds^ Guide* '^'6 



therefore, possessed of such lays should hesitate 

 long before they turn them up, because such pas- 

 tures will grow thicker and thicker, and will sup- 

 port more and more sheep, to an increase not easi- 

 ly credited ; whilst they are well managed under 

 sheep husbandry : and as we are not in the habit 

 of sowing the seeds of these grasses, we must 

 leave our pasture lands for several years before 

 they will regain a sward of this kind. I see a 

 yearly improvement of such pastures as I possess 

 of this kind, and I know one field which carries 

 easily, six sheep of the mixed Spanish breed per 

 acre, through the summer ; although from being 

 near the winter- fold, the sheep run on it when- 

 ever the ground is bare , through the winter and 

 spring. 



The next rule with every good grazier, after 

 adapting his stock to the nature of his soil is, to 

 put on as many creatures as his pastures will 

 carry ; without on the one hand suffering the grass 

 to grow up in tufts, or on the other to have them 

 eaten so bare as to expose the roots to be burnt by 

 the sun. I suspect this to be a nicer and more 

 difficult matter to accomplish in this country than 

 in the moist climate of Great Britain. I have not 

 been able to satisfy myself on this point, and have 

 heard better farmers make the same confession. 

 Still it deserves all our attention, or our profits 

 will be greatly lessened. No creature w^ill eat 

 grass which is running to seed j and sheep are so 



