108 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



as in this way the land receives all the manure that is made 

 from their dung and urine, without the trouble of any pre- 

 vious preparation, or carting, Sec. But folding Sheep on 

 small pieces of ground, says Mr UHommedieu, will do the 

 Sheep as much injury as it will benefit the land. 



The reason of this seems to be, that when Sheep lie on 

 ground on which they have previously lain and dunged, for 

 several nights, it becomes hurtful to them, for pretty much 

 the same reasons that they are injured when too many of 

 them are placed together in one' pen during Winter: Their 

 breath and the smell of their excrements are injurious to 

 each other. But where they are folded in a larger field, 

 they choose a fresh place to lie down every night, and in 

 this way eventually go over the whole field. 



It is said, that in this way an hundred Sheep will, in one 

 season, sufficiently manure a fallow of eight acres for a 

 good crop of wheat. The manure thus made should be 

 frequently ploughed or harrowed under, to prevent much 

 of its evaporation. 



Folding Cows, Sec. on land, can only be done to advan- 

 tage on small pieces of ground designed for cabbages, 

 turnips, Sec.; for, if put into a large field, they will almost 

 always lie down on nearly the same spot. 



See MANURES, for an advantageous method of folding 

 Cows. Sec. 



A low spot of grass- ground, which is inclined to bear 

 coarse wild grass, will be much helped by folding Sheep 

 on it; to the injury of the Sheep, however; and so will a 

 dry spot, by iolding Cows on it. 



When ground is folded for raising turnips, instead of 

 sowing this crop the first year, let it be frequently plough- 

 ed, in order to kill all the weeds, and sown early with flax 

 the next Spring, and then with turnips, after the flax is 

 taken off. Great crops of fl ix may in this manner be 

 raised ; and by again mellowing the ground, after the flax- 

 crop, a very good crop of turnips may be raised the same 

 season. 



FOOD OF PLANTS. Every seed contains a plant in 

 embryo: When it has acquired its full size and shape it is 

 then a perfect plant. In the mean time, it derives, first 

 i'rom the seed itself, then from the air, the earth, and from 

 ^ater, certain food which nourishes it and causes it to grow 

 to maturity. 



From the air it is supposed to absorb hydrogene gas, and 

 the septous principle, or azote ; and for this reason will 

 grow most thrifty in large cities, or in the vicinity of 

 tumnal putridity. Let any putrid decaying flesh be laid in 

 a field oi growing plants, and those which are nearest to 



