x8b3» proper for Rearing Sheep. 



[01 



is three feet above the farface of the ground ; but it fpreads its 

 roots immediately below it to a greater extent. 



Though there is but one fpecies of this plant, yet its quali- 

 ties vary according to the nature of the foil on which it grows. 

 That on a bhickifli lo;im, incumbent on freeftone or limeilone, 

 will, with a little mixture of grafs, feed almoft as well as feve- 

 lal kinds of green pafture; and that which grows on a mixture 

 of earth and fand (or gravel), though inferior to the former, is 

 much better than that which is produced on a wet, fpungy, deep 

 mofs. The two former are called Lea-heath, and the latter Mofs- 

 heath. Perhaps a given number of acres of green pallure will 

 feed more Iheep than an equal number partly covered with heath; 

 but thin land, of the lad defcription, polTefies many advantages 

 not to be gained from that of the former, fuch as the follow- 

 ing. Heath continues to grow during frelh weather in winter, 

 when every fpecies of grafs is decaying, or at lead making no 

 advance ; and, in partial thaws, the fnow will be found melted 

 from off it, while other pailures continue covered ; vv'hich is 

 owing partly to its cauilic quality, and partly to its being more 

 expofed to the adion of the wind. In frofts, the fheep are par- 

 ticularly fond of it, as its caullicity affords an antidote to the 

 benumbing coldnefs of the rhine ; and in time of fnow, when 

 green paftures are covered, it is particularly ufeful, as flieep, by 

 a few ftrokes of the foot, eafily fhake off what is loofely fuf- 

 pended upon its bufhy tops, and thereby get immediate accefs 

 to food ; which not only faves the expence of fodder in deep 

 ftorms, but keeps (lieep in better condition, and renders them 

 more capable of refilling the wafting influence of a fevere fea- 

 fon. Heath alfo excels all other plants in producing found, 

 heaUhy, and vigorous Oieep. In flocks, where this is a princi-* 

 pal part of the food, the rot is never known, unlefs brought on 

 by unflcilful management, bad feafons, or fome fuch caufe. But 

 perhaps thefe advantages may be overbalanced by a iarm keep- 

 ing more iheep, when turned into green paiture, than when a 

 confiderable part of it was heath. In making fuch alteration, 

 however, great regard ought to be paid to the nature of the 

 foil. If it is fuch as will produce grafs of a nutritive quality, 

 the farmer does nor confult his interefi: in allowing it to be over- 

 run with heath ; but when it is of a contrary nature, and yields 

 only a kind of infipid yellow fcg, the alteration ought by no 

 means to be made, as fog is totally unfit for pafture, and, bring 

 naturally almoft dcftitute of moifture, ftrongly refifts the pene- 

 trating power of froft ; confequently, often hurtful, by har- 

 bouring grubs, and ether dcftrudive vermin. The quality of 

 the foil may be known by the grafs found at the W&t of the 



vojL, ly. NO. 15. Fff heath, 



