THE farmer’s manual. 
67 
Pasture grounds and Fencing. 
These articles are of high importance in good farm- 
ing; but perhaps of the smallest consideration in the 
estimation of the American farmer. If ten, fifteen, or 
twenty acres of rough, half-fenced, undrained, or dry 
and unwatered pastures, were, by clearing, draining, 
watering and fencing, rendered as productive as one 
hundrecT acres now are, in their present neglected 
state; 80, 85, or 90 acres of the remainder might 
either be applied to tillage, with advantage, or bring 
an additional revenue in the same ratio, if continued 
in pasture ; both by the increased number, and value 
of the stock they would feed. 
Fencing is a certain ratio of exiiense, rent and inter- 
est, the farmer pays for the use of his lands. If the pro- 
fits upon an acre of ground, exclusive of the expense of 
tillage, give g 24, and it costs the farmer g 6 per annum 
to maintain the fence ; then his clear profit will be $18; 
but if with the same ex|)ense of fencing, his field brings 
him but $ 12 clear upon his tillage, he then gains but 
$ 6 ; this is paying interest with a witness. If he 
neglects his fencing, his whole crops, however valua- 
ble, may be destroyed ; this is sinking both principal 
and interest ; therefore, enclose no more land than 
you can both fence and improve well. 
AVould you make the most of your farm, apportion 
as small a part as possible to pasture, and multiply the 
value of this, by intersecting it with cross-fences into 
as many enclosures, of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8', or 10 acres each, 
as may be found best, according to the situation and 
size of your farm, and the number of your stock ; and 
according to the situation of your brooks, springs, or 
other conveniences for watering ; thus you may mul- 
a double mould-board would answer well,) and earth up your corn 
on the ridges with the hoc, the roots of your com will extend upon 
the ridges unbroken by the plough, and derive the greatest possible 
benefit from your manure ; tlie labour will be less, and the crop much 
better than in the usual mode of ploughing across the ridges. 
