MUTTON PRODUCTION 249 



hurdles ; (d) folding the sheep, and feeding on cut 

 roots. 



Open Grazing. The sheep are turned into a root- 

 field, and allowed to roam at large. This saves netting 

 or hurdles, but a large amount of food is wasted 

 partly through the sheep having too much freedom, and 

 partly through some of the roots becoming tainted. A 

 further consideration on sandy soils, is that sand gets 

 washed or carried by the feet of the sheep on to the 

 roots, with the result that a considerable amount of 

 sand may find its way into the stomachs of the sheep, 

 and possibly cause death. With regard to the manure, 

 this is not scattered uniformly over the field, which is a 

 great disadvantage. 



Folding Sheep. In this method the sheep are 

 confined by nets, wire-netting, or hurdles to a com- 

 paratively small area of roots, depending partly on the 

 number being fed, length of nets, etc. In East Lothian 

 about 50 yards by 50 yards is the area enclosed. The 

 sheep are consequently confined to this area till the 

 roots are practically all eaten up, before another break 

 is given to them. The nets, etc., are kept fairly close 

 up behind them, so as to keep the sheep from manuring 

 one patch more than another. The advantages here are 

 that the roots go very much further, and the field is 

 uniformly manured. The sheep are more settled, 

 and fatten faster. When a change is being made 

 from turnips to swedes, the net or hurdle should be 

 fixed so as to include a few rows of swedes, etc. In 

 this way the sheep gradually become accustomed to the 

 change. 



In fine, dry weather it is often advisable to fold the 

 sheep on the wettest and most exposed part of the 

 field, and vice versa. Changes to a fresh break should 



