254 The Management of Sheep Stock 



rapidly passed over, grows up again without check, and is not 

 liable, as in the open system, to be nibbled down as soon as it 

 shoots. This, in the case of clover, is very injurious, often 

 destroying the plant, whilst at the same time such food is very 

 unhealthy, causing scour, «Scc. 



The folding system answers best where a variety and con- 

 stant succession of crops are grown. Some of the best sheep- 

 masters recommend two, and even three, changes a day. Thus 

 from vetches to seeds makes an admirable change, or, where 

 it is grown, to sainfoin. We need not despair, however, if 

 we are unable to secure so much change, as by care and atten- 

 tion lambs may be done very well on vetches, provided they are 

 eaten off when about eight or nine inches high, and when com- 

 paratively young, the lambs being supplied with a moderate 

 quantity of artificial food, and a constant supply of water and 

 rock-salt. If there is good sound grass-land, a change to this 

 will be very desirable. 



Water-meadows, which have been much extolled, are of 

 doubtful value, especially after wet-growing springs ; lambs 

 frecjuently scour very much on such food, the grass being in 

 an unripe condition. A few acres of water-meadow are very 

 useful, if the subsoil is] porous, as a run for the ewes and 

 lambs ; but we should be careful to give plenty of dry food, 

 to correct the too laxative effect of the raw grass. The first 

 two months after weaning will settle the question as to the 

 sort of mutton we shall turn out ; if we can keep the lambs 

 thriving during this period we have little afterwards to fear. It 

 is a most critical time, and we must not grudge pains and 

 vigilance. The fold must be changed twice a day, if necessary. 

 Shepherds who have been accustomed to the open-field system 

 often object on account of the trouble it entails ; but it is worth 

 all this, and all the extra expense. We have the choice of nets 

 or hurdles. The former are cheaper and more easily shifted, but 

 not so suitable for small folds. The large folds common in 

 Lincolnshire, where we often see one or two acres hitched off, are 

 wasteful, as much food is trodden down, and the land cannot be 

 evenly manured. 



Mangolds kept late into spring are now often invaluable, and 

 never in the way — they are as good as corn. 



Feeding off the seeds, instead of laying them for hay, affords 

 much useful keep, and lambs generally do well when eating off 

 the first crop. The second crop is not always so healthy. But 

 this again is often caused by want of management. On the 

 chalk soils a mixture of hop trefoil and Dutch clover has been 

 found very useful, and on such food the lambs are said to thrive 

 better when eating the second crop than the first, probably 



