PASTURES. 171 



df good mould, and at the same time that they aflford a 

 good herbage, are so dry in their nature as to admit the 

 animals to feed upon them at almost all seasons without 

 hijury by poachiiig. 



The subdivisions of land, that is kept for the sole pur- 

 pose of pasturing, should depend as well upon its fertili- 

 ty, as upon the number of different kinds of cattle that 

 are to be fed on it. Fifty acres of land,' that would on- 

 ly feed three cows during the season, would not pay 

 the expense of subdividing. On the contrary, if the 

 farmer has but three cows, and has three acres of the 

 best pasture land, he ought to divide this into at least 

 two parts; so that the one can be growing while the 

 other is feeding. Or, if he keep twenty c^ws, and has 

 twenty acres of the best pasture, it wiU be protitable to 

 divide it into four parts, pasturing each enclosure three 

 ©r four days, alterndlely. In this way, pasture lands 

 will keep at least one fourth more cattle, than if the 

 whole were in one field. 



Not only a change of pasture is beneficial, but a change 

 of different kinds of cattle in the same pastures should 

 be attended to. Thus, let the milch cows take the first 

 cropping of each field, in rotation ; then the horses and 

 oxen, and the sheep next. In this wa}', the last feeder 

 will eat much grass that has been neglected by the 

 former. 



It is hurtful to pastures to turn in cattle too early in 

 the spring ; particularl}^ to those which are wet. Poach- 

 ing such land destroys the sward, so that it will pro- 

 duce the less quantity of grass. They should not be 

 turned in till there is a good bite. The latter part of 

 May is early enough. 



By draining wet miry spots in pasture, the grass will 

 probably be doubled in quantity, and much improved in 

 quality. Bushes should be cut out and destroyed ; this- 

 tles and other noxious weeds should be mowed down be- 

 fore they go to seed, and every mean taken to eradicate 

 them. It is never advisable to pasture lands too close- 

 ly, particularly in the fall, as this only tends to diminish 

 the quantity the next year. The dung that is lefl, 

 should be beat to pieces, and scattered over the field. 

 Plaster, or lime ashes, sown upon pasture grounds, will 

 repay a handsome profit, by increasing the quantity and 



