AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 301 



will have this space of time to recruit. But in the latter 

 part of October, the cattle may range through all the lots, 

 unless some one may become too wet and soft. In this case, 

 it ouglit to be shut up, and kept so till feeding time the next 

 year. 



But that farmers may not be troubled with low miry pas- 

 tures, they should drain them, if it be practicable, or can be 

 done consistently with their other business. If they should 

 produce a smaller quantity of grass afterwards, it will be 

 sweeter, and of more value. It is well known, that cattle 

 fatted in a dry pasture have better tasted flesh than those 

 which are fatted in a wot one. In the old countries it will 

 fetch a higher price. This is particularly the case as to 

 mutton. 



Feeding pastures in rotation is of greater advantage than 

 some are apt to imagine. One acre, managed according to 

 the above directions, will turn to better account, as some 

 say v.ho have practised it, than three acres in the common 

 way. By the common way I would be understood to mean, 

 having weak and tottering fences, that will drop of them- 

 selves in a i^ew months, and never can resist the violence of 

 disorderly cattle; suffering weeds and bushes to overrun the 

 land ; keeping all the pasture land in one inclosure ; turn- 

 ing in all sorts of stock together ; suffering the fence to 

 drop down in autumn, so as to lay the pasture common to 

 all the swine and cattle that please to enter ; and not putting 

 up the fence again till the first of May, or later. Such 

 management is too common in all the parts of this country 

 with which I am most acquainted. I would hope it is not 

 universal. 



Land which is constantly used as pasture will be enriched. 

 Therefore it is advisable to mow a pasture lot once in three 

 or four years, if the surface be so level as to admit of it. In 

 the mean time, to make amends for the loss of pasture, a 

 mowing lot may be pastured. It will thus be imp oved : 

 and if the grass do not grow so rank afterwards in the pas- 

 ture lot, it will be more clear of weeds, and bear better grass. 

 Alternate pasturing and mowing has the advantage of saving 

 a good deal of expense and trouble in manuring the mowing 

 grounds. 



Though pastures need manuring less than other lands, yet, 

 when bushes, bad weeds, &:c. are burnt upon them, the ashes 

 should be spread thinly over the surface. The grass will 

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