AGRICULTURE. 29 



which one species of animals leave, another will feed 

 upon. 



Also, the stock should vary, in some proportion as the 

 lands of a farm do. As some farms contain a large 

 proportion of high and dry pasture grounds, the greater 

 quantity of sheep should be kept. Where low meadow 

 abounds, the kind of stock should be increased, which 

 will do best on coarse water-grasses; which is well 

 known to be neat cattle, that are young and growing. 

 But if a farm yield a plenty of good sweet grass, it is 

 the more suitable for a dairy farm, and the greater 

 proportion of cows ought to be kept. 



But on no farm should horses be multiplied beyond 

 the number which are needed, or which can be em- 

 ployed to advantage. For they are great eaters, and 

 require the best of the fodder and pasture. A small 

 farmer can scarcely afford to keep one, unless he puts 

 him to the draught. 



Let a farm be what it will, it should never be over- 

 stocked. This is an error that too many farmers in this 

 country are guilty of. Doubtless it arises from a cove- 

 tous disposition; but they sadly miss their aim. Instead 

 of gaining, they lose by it. A half starved stock can 

 never be profitable. 



A farm may be said with truth to be overstocked, 

 when a greater number of animals are kept, than can 

 be well fed with its produce, during the whole year. 

 For it is a ruinous practice, to suffer a beast to pine 

 away, and lose, in one part of the year, the flesh he 

 gains in another. And when the farmer is constrained 

 to purchase food for his stock, he too often affords them 

 but a scanty allowance. Sometimes, it is not in his 

 power to obtain it. 



The starvation of cattle, or keeping them too short 

 of food, not only prevents their being profitable to the 

 owner, but teaches them to be disorderly, and to break 

 through, or leap over fences ; and many times to become 

 absolutely ungovernable; so that they must either be 

 killed, or sold off at a low price; in either of which 

 cases, there is often much inconvenience and loss. 



c2 



