106 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



Every pasture should if possible, be provided with running 

 water and shade trees, or other ample protection against a 

 summer's sun. The last can at all times be secured by a few 

 boards supported on a light, temporary frame. Excessive 

 heat exhausts and sometimes sickens animals, and conse- 

 quently it materially diminishes the effects of food in promo- 

 ting their secretion of milk, the growth of wool, flesh, &c. 

 Pastures ought to be protected against poaching in the spring 

 or late in the autumn. All grounds immediately after long 

 and late rains in the fall or the winter's frosts, are liable to 

 this when exposed to the hoofs of cattle, particularly clay 

 lands and such as have been recently seeded. On late, and 

 off early, is a good rule to be adopted for spring and fall 

 pasturing. Wherever the grasses disappear, fresh seeds 

 should be added and harrowed in ; mosses should be destroy- 

 ed ; they should be properly drained and every attention 

 paid to them that is bestowed on the mowing lands, except 

 that they seldom require manures. But ashes, gypsum, 

 lime, &c., may frequently be applied to them with great pro- 

 fit. Pastures should take their course in rotation when they 

 get bare of choice herbage or full of weeds and it is possible 

 to break them up advantageously. Though many choice, na- 

 tural forage plants may thus be destroyed, yet if again turned 

 into grass at the proper period and they are sown with a plen- 

 tiful stock of assorted grass seeds on a rich and well prepared 

 surface, they will soon place themselves in a productive state. 



