CLOSE FOLDING. 173 



among the young grasses and clovers. They will then return 

 to a fresh fold on which they will feed heartily towards sunset, 

 when they should be put back upon the old fold and allowed 

 to rest. 



CHANGE OF FOOD 



is one of the secrets of successful sheep farming. Wherever 

 this pursuit is carried out to the best advantage, at least one 

 change is made in their pasturage during each day. It may 

 be from ordinary seeds to down, or from old sainfoin to seeds, 

 or from seeds to permanent pasture. The exercise in moving 

 from one part of the farm to another is beneficial, and the 

 change of food is agreeable and stimulates growth. While, 

 then, we do not object to open grazing as a principle, we 

 deprecate the system of turning sheep into a field and there 

 allowing them to remain until the herbage is exhausted and a 

 change is simply imperative. 



CLOSE FOLDING 



is the rule during winter while the flock is upon turnips, but 

 is rather the exception during summer. Over whole counties 

 the system is unknown, while in others it is ordinarily followed. 

 It is most characteristic of those districts in which Down 

 sheep are kept, and where the arable land is adapted for the 

 growth of fodder crops. As already explained, close folding 

 should not be pushed to an extreme, but should be alternated 

 with a run in open fields. 



The advantages of close folding, when judiciously practised, 

 are very great. A fresh bite is insured, and this is especially 

 the case when two pitches out of the food are made daily. 

 The sheep may be allowed upon a fresh " break " until they 

 begin to lie down to rest, and they can then be shut back 

 upon the old fold. After a while they are again allowed access 

 to the new portion, which then becomes the resting-place, and 

 a fresh fold is struck out in the luxuriant clover or rape, or 



