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Artclk XV. 



On Feeding WJoeat in the Spring with Sheep, 



\J&y a Gentleman Farmer in EiTex.] 



Gentlemen, 

 T Now comply with your requeft in giving you 

 ^ my thoughts on the praclice of feeding off 

 wheat with (lieep in the fpring, and alfo an account 

 of my fuccefs therein laft fpring. 



This pra6lice ought not to be generally adoptedi, 

 even where the crop is rank, or, as we term it, 

 winter -proud; becaufe, in many cafes, it would not 

 anfwer any good purpofe, but, on the contrary, in- 

 jure the crop. In Ibme inftances, however, it has 

 fucceeded, and the advantages are thefe : — it afford^ 

 feed for ewes and wethers wlien turnips are over, 

 and before the fpring feed comes in j it caufes thf 

 wheat to branch out into a greater number of ftalk^ 

 than it would otherwife do, and, of courfe, the crop 

 is increafed : by the warmth of the fheep when ly- 

 ing on it, and the manure they leave, the crop is 

 brought forwarder, and the grain heavier than if 

 otherwife would be. In light lands efpecially, the 

 treading of the flieep fixes the earth about the roots 

 of the corn, and caufes the ground to retain its 



moifture longer in a dry fpring. 



On 



