344 On Soiling Cattle. 



tween 13 and 14 acres of grass top dressed, and there 

 remains on hand of the manure collected during twelve 

 months, a balance sufficient to top dress nine acres 

 more, and it does not appear unreasonable to suppose, 

 that the capability of producing manure will extend in 

 proportion to the increased vegetation of the soil until 

 it reaches its zenith of perfection ; it is considered pro- 

 per to mention here, that when I moved to this place' 

 in the fall of 1806, twenty cart loads of dung were haul- 

 ed on it, and the stock of hay being only ten tons (which 

 was the whole that had been made that year on the farm) 

 rendered it absolutely necessary to purchase that article, 

 and when hay has fallen short some has been purchased 

 since, the whole from first to last amounting to about 

 30 tons of hay and 2 tons of barley straw. 



With respect to the management of cattle, it is in- 

 dispensably necessary, not only to their thriving, but 

 likewise their health, that dry places be provided for 

 them to stand and lay down upon during wet weather ; 

 and litter is generally expended before soiling com- 

 mences, if the common yellow loose clay of the yards is 

 pitched into their sheds, until the floors are raised suf- 

 ficiently high to give them a considerable sloping de- 

 scent from the cribs, ending at the front of the sheds in 

 a step of 6 or 8 inches above the level of the yards ; this 

 purpose will be so completely effected, that without a 

 wisp of litter they may be kept dry, throughout the 

 longest continued summer or autumnal rains ; the cat- 

 tle will tread those floors perfectly hard in a few days, 

 imless rain should intervene, and in that case a thick 

 covering of litter if put on in time will secure them 

 from injury ; they should be kept covered after hard 



