AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 39 



determined that in ordinary cases it may be rated over twelve 

 tons of vegetable matter to the acre. 



In the next place we protest against the practice of very 

 deep ploughing for this crop, and that of burying the ma- 

 nure deeply under the sod. The depth of ploughing may 

 be in some measure regulated by the nature of the soil ; but 

 three or four inches in sward land may be regarded as ample ; 

 and not so much as this, where this would carry you below 

 the vegetable mould. All circumstances considered, I am 

 satisfied that it is most eligible to spread the manure upon 

 the surface, ploughing it in with a very light plough and 

 harrow ; and though something may be lost in this way by 

 evaporation, yet not so much as burying it under the sod ; 

 and the land is left in much better condition for the next 

 crops where the manure is thus spread, than where it \ 

 placed in the hill ; nor is the corn so like to suffer from the 

 drought, and the saving is considerable. 



NEAT CATTLE. Neat cattle form a very important 

 part of every farmer'* live stock. In selecting them, two 

 1 sings are very material : first, the health and soundness of 

 the stock from which they are purchased ; and secondly, the 

 quality of the soil on the produce of which it is intended to 

 feed them. Stock for the dairy or the butcher should be 

 selected from a breed of which you know or can ascertain 

 every particular relative to their general health and sound- 

 ness, and the manner in which they have been reared, in- 

 cluding their food, shelter, &c. i 



The Farmer's and Grazier's Complete Guide, by B. Law- 

 rence, an English writer, observes, ' Much has been \\Titten 

 as to what breeds are the best ; and a considerable greater 

 stress has been laid on this part of the question than is borne 

 out by any positive result ; there are good and bad of all 

 kinds ; and provided you select sound and healthy animals 

 from warranted stock, you will, if you treat them properly, 

 have little to care for and less to fear. 



' Always purchase cattle that have been fed on lands of a 

 poorer quality than your own ; but you must not too sud- 

 denly put them to the richer food, or they will be liable to 

 several dangerous diseases. It rarely happens, however, that 

 cattle purchased from rich lands thrive well on poor soils ; 

 but, on the contrary, those from poorer farms do well on 



