574 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



feet thick at the base, and two feet at top, and the 

 height not less than six feet. There should be two or 

 three openings in each, and these always on the south 

 side. The spot on which they are situated should 

 be on a slightly inclined plane ; and drains should be 

 properly constructed, so as to carry off the rain or 

 melted snow ; these should pass through holes in the 

 walls, and be received in a large drain outside. 



When sheep have been driven a few times into 

 these enclosures, they will go into them of their own 

 accord, on the approach of a storm or even during 

 indifferent weather. Consequently, such enclosures 

 are of much advantage to a shepherd, as he will be 

 certain that his sheep will be safe in them, when a 

 snow-storm has taken place, without the danger to 

 which he is liable, in attending to them personally. 



Besides these enclosures, it has been found that 

 strips and clumps of Scotch fir-trees are of much utility 

 as shelter for sheep ; and where such exist, sheep will 

 always retire to the lee side of them on the approach 

 of boisterous or rainy weather. 



Where gentlemen feed sheep in their parks, there 

 is generally sufficient shelter ; but in the formation 

 of new ones, we would especially recommend the 

 introduction of a considerable proportion of spruce- 

 firs, as better adapted for shelter both during snow 

 and rain, owing to the thickness of their foliage. Dry 

 knolls or rocky ground should always be preferred for 

 planting clumps. 



In localities where foxes are plentiful, it becomes 

 necessary to have folds or cots constructed for the 

 protection of lambs during the night, where they 

 should be driven with their dams by the shepherd 

 at nightfall. There are various methods of construct- 

 ing these, which, however, comes more within the 



