CHAPTER IL 



High and low keep — Summer pasture — Stock- 

 ing land — Weeds-— Small fields — Fences — 

 Sheds — Water— -Winter management — Fold 

 and accommodations — Rye — Rowen — Hay — 

 Corn — Roots, &c. — Quantity of food — Water 

 —Salt. 



On the Maintenance and Support of Sheep*, 



IT having been observed that the Merino flocks 

 in Spain are generally kept low, and seldom, or 

 never appear in high order ; it has thence been 

 falsely concluded that low keep is essential to 

 fine wool : but the low state of the Spanish flocks, 

 so far as that is the case, is rather the effect of 

 necessity than choice. The great numbers of 

 which their flocks consist, and the long and fa- 

 tiguing journeys they are compelled to take, in 

 which the old and the young, the strong and the 

 weak are driven together, cannot but prevent these 

 sheep acquiring, or at least retaining that state 

 of vigour and high health, to which they are natu- 

 rally disposed : and we have the testimony of Mr. 

 Laysterie in France, of Mr. Pictet in Switzerland, 

 and of almost every enlightened agriculturalist on 

 the continent of Europe, as well as of Lord Somer- 

 ville, Sir Joseph Banks, and Dr. Parry in Eng- 



