STRIPES CLUMPS, &C. 245 



genial soil, plants are made to flourish : 

 if aided by genial warmth in a superlative 

 degree. Who, at all conversant in rural af- 

 fairs, does not know, that the pasture-field 

 which is either naturally sheltered, or shel- 

 tered by plantations, is prized higher than that 

 unsheltered, although the soil be equally 

 good, or even superior in quality ? 



If we enquire into the cause, it will be 

 found, not only to depend on an early rise 

 of herbage, by means of the shelter afforded 

 to the lands ; but also, that cattle^, who have 

 it in their choice, in cold seasons, to indulge 

 in the kindly shelter afforded them by trees, 

 feed the better. Nay, we may safely pre- 

 sume, that no animal can fatten in discon- 

 tent,orinan uncomfortable condition*. That 

 the kindly shelter, and also the kindly shade 

 of trees, are comfortable to pasturing flocks, 

 may be demonstrated by watching their 

 movements in the stormy blast under a 

 scorching sun. How keenly will they fly 



* Yet it is known that sheep sometimes fatten in the 

 rot> until they grow up, nay, die of fatness. But, caii 

 such be wholesome ? May we not rather reckon this an 

 accumulation of disease? 



