204 FARMING ON FACTORY LINES 



SOME TIPS ON FOLDING 



The folding, though, must not be close. That is to 

 say, instead of confining, as is done in some districts, 

 from GO to 100 sheep on half an acre of land, three 

 or four acre folds should be used for such a number of 

 grazing sheep. By the exercise of a little ingenuity 

 a fresh supply of green food can at all times be made 

 available (except, of course, during a snow storm). 

 Also by tilling on the lines suggested, the stock carry- 

 ing capacity of a great part of the hilly or mountainy 

 land can be trebled. Again. Not only can the num- 

 ber of animals per acre be increased, but a far better 

 type of sheep can be kept. This remark, as is equally 

 true of the general statements made in this book, for 

 it is not mere theory but a simple record of what the 

 author himself has accomplished. 



By introducing a tillage system of cropping to pro- 

 vide green food throughout the year, it is possible to 

 keep on such hilly land as we are describing, very 

 well-bred Leicester and Roscommon ewes, which, 

 crossed with either a Shropshire or Leicester ram, 

 produce lambs double the value of the mountain 

 breeds which under existing conditions are the only 

 breeds which can survive on the scanty fare. 



WHAT THE ROTATION DOES 



Study the rotation in detail and it will be seen that 

 the only crop sown in spring time is vetches, which 

 require the minimum of cultivation. There is no 

 manure carting; there is very little crop carting; and 

 whilst the moving of folds and the erection of shelter 



