OF STRAW, ITS VALUE, AND USES. 413 



This mode of littering, however, has been objected to. 

 It is said, that it exposes too great a qnantity of dung to 

 the action of the atmosphere ; and that sheep would thrive 

 better, even in a wet turnip field, than when turnips are 

 laid down to them upon a clean grass field ; for the tur- 

 nips, when thus laid down, roll about at every touch, in 

 consequence of which the sheep never improve upon them 

 so well, as when the turnips are fixed in the ground. Ex- 

 perience alone can ascertain whether these objections are 

 well founded.* 



The expence of littering horses, and the return in dung, 

 is another point to be ascertained. Littering a pair of 

 coach-horses in Edinburgh, costs about L. 6 per annum. 

 In Middlesex, it is calculated that it requires a load of 

 straw, or 12Q6 Ibs., worth, on an average, L. 1, 10s,, to 

 litter a farm-horse for the year. The horses generally lie 

 out three months in the year, and the dung of the re*- 

 maining nine months is said to be worth about L. 2. 



In the London markets, straw for litter is drawn straight, 

 in handsome trusses, and straw threshed by mills is less 

 saleable, on account of its being more bruised, and less 

 sightly in the truss. Perhaps when unbruised it may last 

 longer, which is an object where straw is so dear ; at the 



* It is likewise objected to the plan above alluded to, that the turnip 

 field is broken and poached with carts, and does not receive the benefit 

 of treading by sheep, which light turnip soils so much require. This 

 treading not only tends to destroy annual weeds, but also leaves the land 

 in the best possible state for wheat or barley, with grass seeds. There 

 is no supply of dung that will make amends for the want of this tread- 

 ing or consolidation. As to the making of dung, the same quantity may 

 be made by cattle in. straw-yards, with, a third or fourth part of the tur- 

 nips drawn from them. The sheep being afterwards folded on the ro- 

 inaiuing turnips, as well as on the ground from which the turnips have 

 been drawn, the whole land is equally manured and consolidated. 



