1804. On Soils proper for Rearing Sheep". 42^ 



TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE I-ARMER's MAGAZINE. 



On the Nature, Improvement , and ^talities of difftrent Soils proper 

 for Rearing Shetp. 



Letter II. 

 Sir, 



Referring you to my former letter, vol. IV. p. 300, I fliall 

 now proceed to fpeak of thole kinds of herbs, the efFi-6ls where- 

 of on the conllitution of (heep are fomewhat fimilar to thofe of 

 heath, and which are often found on the fame foil with it. The 

 principal ones are benty lingy and deer-hair. Thefe are the names 

 by which they are known in this neighbourhood ; but I fufpedt 

 they are only provincial ones, and that the fame plants or herbs 

 may be knovvn by different names in different diftridts ; there- 

 fore, in order to prevent miltakes, I fliall endeavour to give a 

 ihort defcription of each as I proceed. 



Bent may be divided into three kinds. The mofl: valuable is 

 that cdUedJhof-h/itj whofe root forms a kind of cylindrical cluf- 

 ter, partly above and partly below the furface of the ground, 

 about one inch in length, and a quarter of an inch in diameter. 

 From this root fpring a number of fmall green leaves, which 

 fpread from the centre in an oblique direction ; and, in the 

 months of June and July, a fmall round ftalk arifes from the 

 root, in the middle of the leaves, extending to about a foot in 

 height, which bloffoms in July, feeds in Auguft, and decays in 

 September. This fpecies is not confined to any particular foil ; 

 for thougji it is found, in greateft abundance, on dry brittle mofs, 

 with a fmall mixture of fand, yet it is alfo obferved on clays and 

 gravels ; rarely, however, on the latter, as the poroufnefs of the 

 lurface is unfavourable to its growth. 



This kind of bent may jufily be reckoned among the mofl: va- 

 luable plants which a moffy foil produces, being a ready and 

 healthy fpecies of food at almoft all feafons ; for even in Janu- 

 ary, February, and March, when molt herbs have fuffered great- 

 ly from the fcverity of the feafon, it lofcs little of its verdure, 

 and confequently affords a fupply of green food at a time when 

 it is otherwife very fcarce. It hath alfo this advantage over 

 heath, that the (lieep bred thereon feed to a greater weight, and 

 carry more wool than thofe reared upon the former, and arc 

 not fo apt to turn lean in April, that critical period of the year. 

 I cannot, however, omit noticing, that, after the beginning of 

 April, the ewe generally gives the preference to herbage of a 

 more juicy and nutritive nature, as being neceffary to bring and 

 keep upon her a fufficiency of milk to fupport the lamb. To 

 obtain this end llie fpares no pains j but wanders about and in- 



veftigates 



