208 On Manures. 



layer of dry straw can be daily applied to the fold, and no 

 loss of life need ensue, even in the most inclement season. 



It is a good practice in husbandry, to fold sheep or lambs 

 on clover, to be followed by wheat. They should have a 

 piece of fresh feed set out for them every day, and should 

 not be close penned, but allowed to fall back upon the land 

 previously gone over by them. Sheep not only thrive well 

 with such treatment, but a good succeeding crop of wheat 

 is insured. 



The advantages of folding sheep, from hilly pastures, on 

 low grounds, has been much controverted. It is contended 

 on the one hand, that the advantages arising from the im- 

 mediate application of dung and urine to any soil, and of 

 treading to a loose one, are so well known, that no doubt 

 can be entertained of the profit of the practice. Indeed, on 

 many light soils, more especially chalk, very little wheat would 

 be raised without it ; and the manure which, scattered over a 

 large surface, would be of little or no use, when collected, 

 proves highly beneficial. It is calculated, that 1000 ordinary 

 sheep when folded, will manure an acre in a night. On the 

 other hand, the profit of such folding is denied ; and it is main- 

 tained, that such a system is pernicious to the sheep pasture, 

 and injurious to the animals. To manure one hundred acres 

 of arable in the vale, two or three hundred acres of pasture, 

 it is said, are deprived of any benefit from manure, in the 

 hills. The profit of the fold is reckoned only worth about 

 5s. per head per annum ; and it is contended, that the ani- 

 mal, even with little driving, is injured by the practice, nearly 

 as much. One advantage of folding, however, is, that the 

 wildest sheep are rendered much more docile, feed better, 

 and afterwards are more quickly fattened when prepared for 

 the market. The introduction of this mode of folding, has 

 been strongly recommended in the mountainous districts of 

 Scotland, where the pasture on the hills is abundant, and 

 provision for winter feeding is scarce. 



The Southdown sheep, are found to be the best adapted 

 for folding, both from their docility of temper, and their ca- 

 pacity for travelling. Their short compact wool also, pro- 

 bably subjects them to less inconvenience, from laying upon 

 ploughed land when wet, than the long open fleece of the 

 Leicester sheep. In these respects, the Cheviot breed cer- 

 tainly rival the Southdown. 



In regard to the benefit of manure from sheep, to a hill 

 pasture, it is not so great as may be imagined. They are 

 always found to collect to some favoured spot at night, which 



