i On Sheep, 



to the house; but a fold encircled with pales six or seven 

 feet high would doubtless be preferable, and where tim- 

 ber is in plenty, this might be done at a light expence. 

 If a fence of this description, were made moveable, it 

 might be applied to folding in the field for the purpose 

 of improving land. 



In one respect sheep in their value to the farmer, have 

 a decided superiority over black cattle. This never oc- 

 cun'ed to me till lately ; when I was looking over a field 

 that had been closely pastured by a large flock, I was 

 forcibly struck with the manure they had left on the 

 ground ; not with the quantity, for this was perhaps not 

 comparatively greater than would have been left by 

 other animals, but with the equability of its disposure 

 over the surface. 



The dung of larger animals is generally dropped in 

 a heap, and the benefit arising from it is confined to the 

 particular spot on which it has fallen, which would have 

 been sufliciently improved with half the quantity ; and 

 besides, in the summer it is more liable to the depreda- 

 tions of insects, and more subject to have its moisture 

 exhaled by the sun beams than sheep's dung, for the lat- 

 ter incorporates sooner with the soil, the heaps being 

 much smaller, and the granulations less. 



Another advantage which sheep have over black cat- 

 tle, is the shortness of the season they require dry fod- 

 der in. — They will do well in pastures so short, that 

 black cattle* cannot live in them. Hence less expence 

 is incurred in supplying them with hay. 



'#The term "black cattle" is adopted from Professor Munro^ 



