DAILY MANAGEMENT OF LAMBS AND TEGS. 145 



are used it is a common practice to use a withy (twisted hazel 

 or willow), or a stout hempen shackle, which is slipped over the top of 

 the stake and twisted round the end upright spars of both hurdles, 

 and so made tight. In this case the hole is made by an iron crowbar 

 or fold bar. Light 

 " flitting " hurdles 

 those easy to flit or 

 move easily are best 

 suited to work in a 

 root crop for close IRON-SHOD DRIFT STAKE 



folding, as by help of 



the shackle and stake they are not merely coupled together better, 

 but, by proper coupling, a considerable number of hurdles adjoining 

 will be helped. These flitting hurdles depending mainly on the stake 

 and shackles, therefore, have comparatively short feet to the heads. 

 In a few localities very heavy oak hurdles almost as strong 

 as gates are used, the heads being made exceptionally long to 

 admit of their being driven into the ground so as not to require the 

 support of extra stakes, and an iron fold bar being used to let 

 the heads into the ground. Although the hurdles are substantial 



IRON FOLD BAR. 



and last for a long time, they are not so profitable as the lighter 

 forms, as they are expensive to move. There is no doubt that 

 where used these hurdles are not moved as frequently as is desirable, 

 and they are not met with in the strictly close folding districts, 

 being more suited to use where little moving is required. Wire 

 netting or hempen netting is extensively used for folding sheep, 

 especially in districts where suitable wood for hurdles is not readily 

 available. There are many points in favour of their use, but 

 in the closest folding districts there is an opinion that wooden 

 hurdles better sustain heavy pressure should the sheep, from any 

 cause, such as fear, throw special strain on the fencing in the 

 endeavour to stampede. 



Inequalities in the ground in a sheepfold are dangerous, as 

 sheep are liable to become " cast." A sheep is cast when it gets 

 on its back and cannot get on its feet again. Unless the wool 

 is long and the sheep fat this rarely happens on level ground ; 

 but sheep with long wool, particularly in warm weather in spring, 

 when the ticks become irritable and the sheep roll to get relief, 

 very frequently get cast, and, if not set on their feet, choke. When 

 the wind blows into their mouths, they choke very quickly. On 



