464 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XXXIX. 



tlirown upon the ground, should be placed at different distances, either in 

 the trouglis or sheep-cribs in common use, or in the wicker tumbrils 

 employed in some parts of Lincolnshire *. 



Such is the usual practice of careful farmers, even when not fattening 

 the animals for market ; but upon many of our wolds and downs this is 

 neglected, and a large portion of the mountainous parts of Wales and 

 Scotland consists only of sheep-walk, which admits of no other mode of 

 feeding but pasture, and apparently contains notliing but heather. This, 

 however, ripens into seed, which furnishes an ample supply to the flocks 

 during the winter season, and in the following months the bents, fescues, 

 ling, burnet, brome, deer-hair, and cotton-grass, spring up in succession, 

 together with various other Alpine plants which are indigenous to these 

 elevated regions : Nature thus bountifully providing for their subsistence ; 

 for, even when covered deep in snow, instinct teaches the creatures to 

 scrape it down with their feet until they reach the herbage which lies 

 underneath. 



FOLDING 



is practised on fallow-lands in the spring months, after corn crops for 

 turnips, then on fallows or clover leys for wheat ; and when that season is 

 over the fold is removed to whatever ploughed land, or stubbles intended to 

 be broken up, which may need manure for a succeeding crop. The fold 

 is likewise not un frequently again run lightly over that which has been 

 seeded with wheat ; though more with a view to bury the seed in the soil, and 

 to consolidate the ground by the treading of the sheep, than to lay on it an 

 additional quantity of dung. In very wet weather it is also a good plan 

 to have a standing fold upon pasture land, in which the sheep may be 

 penned in rainy nights, when the ar.ible is in a state unfit to receive them. 



JVhen fed upon upland soils of a dry nature, the lambs — now grown to 

 the stage of tegs and gimmers — are folded upon the land, in the same 

 manner as sheep of a more advanced age. Such is, indeed, the universal 

 custom of all the practical fanners upon our downs and wolds, though many 

 of those situated in the lowlands pursue a contrary system, and the prac- 

 tice is decried by all theorists ; as being, although productive of corn, yet 

 injurious to the animal, the quality of the wool suffering from dirt, and the 

 growth of flesh being deficient : thus sacrificing the grass-land to the 

 arable, or in the words of Bakewell, who was a great enemy to it — 

 " robbing of Peter to pay Paul." 



There can, indeed, be no doubt that although advantageous to the land, 

 the practice of folding is prejudicial to the animal ; as well as that, in con- 

 sequence of the exercise of driving, he will eat more than if left quiet. Yet 

 it may be justly doubted whether the benefit accruing to the soil may not 

 be more than a sufficient compensation for the injury done to the flock. 

 It is certain that )-ich lands, divided into small enclosures, are liable to be 

 poached bv the treading of the flock in their moving to the fold, and the sheep 

 are injured by being driven from any distance to it ; for they will evidently 

 improve more rapidly if allowed to lie down after they have filled their bellies. 



* These are circular caj^es, about 10 feet in circiiml'erence, and closely wattled to the 

 height of about a loot', above which they are left open for the space of 18 inches ; the 

 staves which form the skeleton, being each about ten inches asunder ; thereby allowing 

 the sheep to pass their heads between, and thus prevent the stronger from driving away 

 the weaker. In the upper part of the tumbril the staves are drawn closer together, yet 

 allowing room enough for putting in the food, — whether roots or dry — and a cover may 

 be added. — See the Complete Grazier, 6th edit., p. 254, iu which there is a figure of the 

 utensil. 



