88 Essay on Sheep. 



of other animals that ruminate. It will be pro- 

 per too occasionally to change the pastures. I 

 find that the daisy is eaten readily by sheep in 

 the pasture in the spring of the year, and when 

 in flower they will crop the flowers; but then 

 they must have a change of food, or they will 

 tire of it, and only eat it from necessity. If 

 not used to it, it will sometimes purge them in 

 the spring; in which case their pastures should 

 be changed. No hay is, however, eaten with 

 more avidity, both by sheep and cattle than that 

 made from the daisy when in the flower. If 

 it stands thick, and you cut it down, after wilt- 

 ing a few hours the cows will leave their grass 

 to feed upon it. 



It is a generally received opinion in every 

 part of Europe except England, that sheep 

 should not feed either in the evening or in the 

 morning when the dew is on the grass. No- 

 thing can be more absurd than this idea, or 

 more contrary to experience. With me it is 

 one among a thousand other proofs, that fraud 

 may practise upon ignorance till falsehoods 

 are considered as the axioms of truth. In every 

 country in Europe except England and Holland, 

 sheep are tended by shepherds, who lead them 

 to the field, and continue out with them the 

 whole day, whatever may be the state of the 



