348 PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 



requires at least as long, if not longer, to restore their wasted 

 energies, as it does to destroy them. 



The great mistake with most farmers is, that they attempt 

 to cultivate too much land. They are not impressed with the 

 importance of investing capital in their farms and farm stock 

 for future use. They look not to a future and permanent 

 fertility and thrift, but to an immediate gain. The best stock 

 are the fattest, and of course will bring the most money in 

 the market ; they of course are sold off, and disposed of by 

 the butcher and his customers. The best hay must go to 

 market, for that which is inferior will keep the stock alive. 

 The sure remedy for these evils, is to have no inferior pro- 

 ductions ; and then we may hope to send our live stock and 

 seeds to other countries, instead of bringing theirs to our 

 own. 



It is not intended by these remarks to dissuade farmers from 

 attending to the improvement of their farm stock, but simply 

 to point out the best mode of improvement ; and to show the 

 folly of attempting to retain, for any length of time, the per- 

 fection of any improvement in stock or crops, without at- 

 tending to the preparation of food for them. 



The true method of improving stock, is to improve the 

 farm ; so as to retain any advance that is made, rather than 

 to be constantly running out one kind of stock, and intro- 

 ducing new kinds. 



There is one great defect in the mode of introducing new 

 stock ; but one or two of a kind are first introduced. These 

 are deteriorated by mixing with those whose reproductive en- 

 ergies are weakened or exhausted. By this course, the far- 

 mer expects to procure a new, and better breed ! The prac- 

 tice of farmers in this respect, reminds us strongly of the reso- 

 lutions passed by the Irish court : " Resolved, that we build 

 a new jail. Resolved, secondly, that the new jail be made 

 from the old one. Resolved, thirdly, that the old jail remain 

 standing, till the new one is built." 



