The Mana(jement of Grass Land. 
5 
The rich pastures resting upon a deep and healthy subsoil are 
(bund to produce more bulk of grass than any other ; but in some 
cases the grass is wild and coarse in its growth, as, from the 
richness of soil and immense range the roots enjoy when in search 
of their food, a corresponding growth or rapid increase is pro- 
duced in the foliage. The rich pastures or soils are found most 
in the inland and warmer districts, and are truly designated in 
those localities the fine old " ox-lands," which are much sought 
after by the leading or principal graziers, as they are known to 
fatten an ox or sheep of any size, and, in many cases, regardless 
of quality. It is truly difficult to define any plan of management 
in regard to these pastures, they being rarely cleared or rested 
the whole year round ; it is found requisite to continue the 
winter-beast in the pastures up to the latest period, to effect a 
clearance of the " old fog" left over from the preceding summer. 
In such cases they are frequently allowed to remain throughout, 
and others are added to them as the grazmg season advances. 
In some districts the practice is to winter lambs upon these 
pastures, particularly in Leicestershire ; and they are never 
removed until fat for the butcher — about the end of the following 
August or beginning of September. In other districts, however, 
either shearlings or barren ewes are placed upon them, and drawn 
off early in the season ; a desirable process. 
These pastures, from their quick growth and strength of 
herbage, are generally stocked with oxen of a good age ; some 
occupiers in the western districts prefer heifer or cow stock for 
supplying the manufacturmg population. 
In either case a second run is provided about the middle of 
of the summer, at which period many graziers prefer to " skim " 
these pastures over, thereby checking the rough bunches and 
grasses that predominate, and giving a more even pasture to the 
succeeding cattle. 
The winter management is that of the soils before treated on ; 
cattle and sheep in sufficient number being placed upon them 
to effect a proper clearance of the rough grass previous to the 1st 
of May. The cattle depastured upon these soils during the 
winter months rarely receive any extra food, except in extreme 
weather ; as they are found, when allowed fodder, to be more 
restless and less inclined to effect a clearance of the " rough grass," 
for which purpose they are expressly provided, and may (under 
the circumstances) be said to cost nothing for wintering. This 
class of animals are fatted or cleared off for the London market 
about the succeeding Michaelmas, and are generally termed the 
Leicesters, as they are principally used in that and the surround 
ing districts. In those districts where less shelter is found and 
part of the occupaticm is arable, it is customary to allow the 
