444 MODERN FARRIER. 



the inside of the couples near the bottom. On this 

 and the lower roof rail, are nailed spars, which are 

 placed close together, but not so as to exclude a free 

 circulation of air. In the front, spaces are left open 

 at intervals. The thatch consists of heath, which is 

 the most durable of all others. There is some art 

 required in laying it on, although the operation ap- 

 pears to be very simple. The first layer consists of 

 heath, having the thick roots cut off, and nicely 

 arranged and fastened down by long pieces of wood 

 tied with willow twigs to the frame work. The 

 heath is then laid on without regard to the roots, 

 except ha\dng them inmost. The thatch is laid on 

 thicker and thicker towards the top, where it is 

 fastened by means of thin sliced turf laid along. 

 Moveable cots may be made with frames filled with 

 straw, or heath, by means of wicker work ; the sides 

 being made of wicker work alone^ 



52. Improved Fold. 



A sheep-fold has been lately invented by Mr. 

 Plowman of Broome, Norfolk, upon an improved 

 and very simple principle, combining many advan- 

 tages over the old and expensive method of folding 

 by hurdles ; and as the whole fold can be removed 

 with ease at all times, it will be found peculiarly 

 useful in feeding off turnips on the land in frosty 

 weather, when hurdles cannot be used. It is stated 

 that the expence, in the first instance, will exceed 

 that of hurdles, for the same given quantity of 

 sheep ; but having had one in use nearly three 

 years, he is satisfied the saving will be very consi- 

 derable : for, before he adopted this method of fold- 

 ing, he lost from thirty to forty nights folding in 

 the year, owing to the land being hard in dry sea- 

 sons ; which renders folding almost impracticable, 

 as they never can be set without great labour and 



