on Heavy and Light Land. 261 



would be a suitable size, as it would hold about 50 sheep, so as to 

 allow each animal about 4 square yards. Strong extra-sized 

 hurdles will be required. The chaff and corn may be prepared 

 at the buildings, and brought twice a day by a donkey-cart and 

 boy, the roots being prepared on the spot. A great quantity of 

 manure may thus be made, probably very near its destination ; 

 it will require turning once or twice, and will then be found in 

 excellent order for applying the following autumn. 



Pulping will be found a great improvement over slicing, and 

 with yard-fed sheep it will be unattended by such difficulties as 

 we have noticed with regard to the open field. 



There is one point to which allusion has not hitherto been 

 made, and that is, increasing the proportion of pasture on strong 

 land, especially in a moist climate. Under such circumstances 

 a considerable proportion is desirable, though half at least of 

 the farm should be arable, as otherwise we cannot provide straw 

 and roots for winter keep. If grass is properly drained and 

 well treated ; if periodically dressed with manure, compost, 

 and possibly artificials ; and if during summer sheep graze, 

 eating artificial food, it is astonishing how much good winter 

 keep such land will produce for the ewes. The utter neglect 

 of our grass land which we too often see is a sad blot upon 

 English agriculture, and in the present day such neglect is 

 ruinous, for nothing will pay so well for capital properly laid 

 out. I am aware that practical difficulties often exist. It is a 

 work of time to secure a sward, and during a portion of that 

 time a very unremunerative produce is returned ; so that the 

 farmer who has no lease, and no help from his landlord, may well 

 hesitate about laying down land to grass ; but he need not doubt 

 about the advantage of treating the old land liberally. 



I believe that the principal means of increasing sheep stock 

 on strong land, is to so arrange the cropping as to secure a large 

 surface and succession of summer green food, such as vetches, 

 rape, early turnips, and cabbage, — the latter being particularly 

 adapted lor strong soils, — and to provide for the winter by the 

 judicious use of mangolds (climate permitting), or swedes, with 

 plenty of dry food. The breeding ewes may be kept in a healthy 

 state on the grass land during winter ; whilst the fatting stock 

 (tegs), if kept on, may best be fed in strawyards. 



