30 FA?fnLY RECEIPTS. 



It is far better that some of the stock of food should 

 he left in the spring, than that it should fall short. It 

 is a good reserve against a season of scarcity: And such 

 seasons often happen in this country by drought. 



The following general rules, as to the management of 

 stock may deserve attention. 



'•1. Animals intended for the butcher, should be kept 

 in a state of regular improvement. The finer breeds 

 are highly fed from their birth, and are almost always 

 fat. With other breeds, and on pastures of inferior 

 quality, this is neither necessary nor practicable. But 

 in every case the same principle of improvemiCnt should 

 be adhered to, and such animals ought never to be al- 

 lowed to lose flesh, in the hopes of afterwards restoring 

 it by better feeding. 



"2. The size should never be above that which the 

 pasture can support in a thriving condition. The at- 

 tempt to raise them to an undue size, by crossing, is cen- 

 surable. In regard to size, the stock of every kind, 

 and of all the various breeds, should be proportioned 

 to the quantity, and the quality of their intended food. 



"3. The best pasture should be allotted to that por- 

 tion of the stock, which goes first to market; the next 

 in quality to the breeders; and the coarse pasture, to 

 the inferior or growing stock. 



"4. Great care should be taken, not to overstock pas- 

 ture, which is attended with great loss to the farmer, and 

 the community. This ought to be particularly avoided 

 in young and growing animals. If they are kept poor 

 during one part of the year, they will scarcely thrive 

 during the remainder; and whenever ill fed, will never 

 attain to their proper size and proportion. 



"Lastly, tlie food, whatever it may be, should not be 

 too suddenly changed. It is seldom profitable to bring 

 lean animals immediately from coarse to rich pastures; 

 and a change from dry, to succulent food, and vice versa, 

 should be gradually etfected. A change of pasture, 

 liowever, of (he same quality, tends to produce a greater 

 accumulation of fat. 



The following observations relative to the size and 

 form of stock are by Henry Cline, Esq. an English Sur- 



