GRAZING. 



able regard to the qualities or propcrtie« of the kinds of 

 animals, whatever they may be, in the intention of graz- 

 ing thorn with profit ; thofe kindu, whcth-r of catdt- or (Ivep, 

 uliicli have thi- property of keepiHg thcmfelv.s fat, or in 

 tok nibly fiMl condition, by the leall tonfumptici. or expendi- 

 ture of food, b>'ing condantly prefera-d, whatever the fize 



tliein m quantity, fi/e, and quality ; the jndpjnient of the 

 grazier not oidy in feledting fiich as are molt fuitable for the 

 p'.irpofe and moll difpoled to fatten, but in olitiining them, 

 where they are to be purchafed, at fuch prices as that they 

 may pay well for keeping ; and difpofing of them, when fat- 

 tened, at their full Vidue and advantage. 



It has been Hated, by Mr. Kent, that the (locking of land or breed may be, "as that is evidently a quality of much 

 with proper cattle is one ot the nicell parts of the fcience greater imj)i)rtance to tlie grazier than tliat of mere fizc, 

 ol farming. Where nature is left to herl'elf, Ihe always pro- cmilideriid in an abllract maimer. It is Aated, that where 

 duces animals fuitable to her vegetation, from the fmallell there are fnic and rich pallures, the graziern-.ay " choofe lii« 

 (keep on tiie ^Vellh mountains to the large-fl lort in the bealls as large as he can lind them, provided thev are of the 

 I.incolnlhire marflics ; from tlie little hardy bullock in the right breed and (haiie ; but let him ;J-.vays prefer fliape to 

 nurtliern highlands to the noble ox in tlie richeil pailures in h/e ; for it will all'undly pay him better ;" and, that 



Somerfetlhire. But good hulliandry admits of our increaf- 

 ing the value of the one in pi'oportion to that of the other. 

 Land improved enables us to keLp a better fort of ilock, 

 which (hews the double return the earth makes for any judi- 

 cious attention or labour we bellow upon it. The true 

 wildoni of the occupier is bell fliewn in preferving a due 

 equilibrium between th.i improvement ot his land and Ilock. 

 They go hand in hand, and if he negleft the one, he cannot 

 avail himfelf of the otlier. It fhould, tlierefore, be lirll 

 confidered what kind of cattle, or other forts of ilock, will 

 anfwer the i)urpofe beft, on the particular defcription of 

 land upon which they are to be grazed ; and next, what forts 

 may pay the moll in the confumption of the produce. 



" In general, it will probably be found, that upon llrong 

 florid paltures of the driell kinds, the large lorts of cattle, 

 w ith fnnie of the larger breeds of Iheep, will be the moll 

 fuitable ilock ; but that where the grals-lands are neither 

 lo luxuriant nor fo dry, and upon turnip-lands, the Imall 

 ICnglilh, Wcllh, or Scotch cattle, with lome of the fmall 

 breeds of Iheep, will be motl profitable. Thus, as different 

 forts of grafs-land and different kinds of produce leem in 

 point of profit to require different defcriptions of animals 

 to feed upon and conlume their produce, it is of much im- 

 portance to be at fome pains to make the bell and moll iuitable 

 application." And in cales wliere the grazier breeds liis own 

 ilock, he will have little difficulty in ielecting fuch of the 

 different kinds as are the moll adapted to his views ; but 

 where the animals are to fee pure! ,'ed in, which mull moll 

 frequently be the cafe, more care and eireumlpeclion will be 

 neceffary. It will be proper, though a dilHeult talk, to 

 make a choice of fuch as have been well kept and are in a 

 thriving conditicm ; as when they have been Hinted in their 

 food, and have the contrary appearance, tley feldom do lo 

 well for the ufes of the grazier. It will likewife be of advan- 

 tage to have them from lit uat ions in which the lands are interior 

 in point of richnefs. It is noticed by lome, that many tanners 

 have found great advantage in buying Iheep from the poorell 

 fpots, as they generally thrive moll when they come into a 

 richer pailure, like trees which endure tranfplanting the bet- 

 ter for coming from a po ir nurlery. They likeu ife think that 

 they endure folding and penning better than Iheep which are 

 bred on a more luxuriant foil. And they are certainly right, 

 in thefe obfervations. But, with-refpect to the notion wliich 

 farmers are apt to entertain, that all kinds of Iheep will not 

 end'jre penning, they labour under an error. It is believed 

 that all lean or llore-llieep are tlie better for being folded. 

 They are generally more healthy ; and, above all other ad- 

 vantages, this one is certainly obtained by it ; when fuch 

 Iheep are put to fatten they thrive much better and taller, 

 as oxen do that have been moderately worked. But wliore the 

 grazing-lands are very moid, Iheep are not by any means a 

 fort of Rock to be depended upon, as they are extremely 

 liable to become difeafed. 



In addition to thcfe points, it is neceffary to have confider- 



" thole who are upon indifferent grafs mull take tare to pro- 

 portion the li/.e of tlieir bealls to the goodiiefs of their paf- 

 tures : their cattle had much better be too fniall than too 

 large ; as there are vail tracls ol land that will anfwer in graz- 

 ing, which are not good enungh to ftip[)ort large breeds." 

 And it is not improbable, but that the fame thing may hold 

 good in a great degree in regard to Iheep. But in all fucb 

 cafes, as w here tlie Ilock is reared upon the land of the farm, 

 which is often a good practice, there can be little diificultv, 

 as has been fecn, in fixing upon fuch animals as are the mod 

 proper in thefe different intentions ; but as it mud t.ften be 

 neceffary for the glazing tanner to purchafe his live-lSock at 

 fairs and markets, and in ottier circumllances, much care 

 and attention, as well as knowledge, will be required 

 tor him to accomplilli it m the moll advantageous man- 

 ner. 



In a lyllem of Practical Agriculture, lately publifhed, it 

 is noticed to be " of great importance in this bufinels to 

 provide fuch as have been kept in a proper manner, and are 

 in a healthy, improving date ; as, where the contrarv is the 

 cale, they are difficult, and require a much greater length 

 ot time to be brouglit into the date pro])er for lale than 

 would otherwife have beei< neceffary. It is, perhaps, expe- 

 rience alone tliat can quality the grazier to form a corretl 

 judgment in tliele relpeets ; in general, however, lie is led 

 to the choice ot Ilock bv no fixed or feientific principles, but 

 bv the impreffion the appearances ot the animals liave upon 

 him.'' And, it is dated on the authority of Mr. Mardiall, 

 " that the experii need gra/ier, who has been accullomed to 

 attend fairs and market.s, knows at light, or by the allillance 

 of the llightell touch, wliether the animals he is about to pur- 

 cliafe will luit him. Their general form and looks pleafc 

 him. 'I^liey are every where clian ; ha\e little ollal about 

 them ; their eyes are full and vivid ; their coiuitenances 

 brilk ; their tkins alive, and their flelh mellow. On the 

 whole, thev have the refemblanee of thole which have been 

 grazed before with fuccels. Dthers are rejeiled, from the 

 grazier not having found any Inch as thev refemble to have 

 dime well, but numy to luive f.aned out in an unprofitable 

 manner." And the writer ot the above work conceives, 

 that there are certain " principles in this branck c.f the 

 farmer's bufinels which may be attended lo with gre.it advan- 

 tage, as the animals have certain points or parts, the proper 

 or improper forms of which denote them to be valuable, or 

 the contrarv, for this purpole. Thele are, that the legs 

 fhould be ihort in proportion to the llze of the animal ; the 

 back very llraight, broad, and Hat ; the loins wide ; the 

 careale deep round, or rather barrel-fiiaped below ; the 

 fore-quarlers round, full, and fpreading ; the bones imall ; 

 the rtelh ;ill"ording an eladic feel ; the Ikiu thin, and a difpoll. 

 tion to fatten well, and on the bed parts. Where thefe 

 marks are predominant, the dock is modly fuitable tor the 

 piiri)ofes of the graziers." And, " that where the hair of 

 the hide, in fattening cattle, is incLaed to curl inllead of 

 I being 



