DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOLD. 



91 



it, the ropes and twine will become so much tightened 

 by the moisture as to be in danger of bursting. Where 

 net folds are used, the shepherd always takes care to 



carry about some twine, with which he mends holes. 

 The common fold, made of hurdles, is not therefore 

 likely to be set aside. Besides the temporary fold used 

 in turnip feeding, there are others consisting of houses 

 or sheds attached to the farm-yard, for the protection of 

 the sheep in bad weather. 



Should the turnip crop fail, several other kinds of 

 food may be given to sheep ; such as potatoes, mangel- 

 wurzel, cabbages, and rape : also, in case of need, corn 

 in the sheaf, brewers' grains, and oil cake. But there 

 is no real substitute for turnips, the most valuable crop 

 for the sheep farmer. 



The shepherd has to watch the effect of diet on his 

 flock, and to observe the first tokens of disease. A rich 

 and moist diet, and a damp soil, will often produce 

 symptoms of the rot, a disease which can only be cured 

 when taken in the earliest stage. Unless the shepherd 

 is very watchful of the appearance of his flock, this 

 disease may have been going on amongst them for some 

 time without his noticing it. The infected sheep are a 

 little duller than usual ; but they do not at first lose 

 their appetites, nor become thin. The sure sign of this 

 complaint is, however, the yellow colour of the eye 

 around the pupil, and the appearance of a yellow fluid 

 at the corner of the eye. Where this is observed, an 



