17 



provement and success of our husbandry must de- 

 pend upon a succession of crops adapted to the cir- 

 cumstances of our soil, climate, and peculiar con- 

 dition. 



In England, a large portion of the turnip crop is 

 consumed on the land where it grows. The sheep 

 are fed out of doors all winter ; and he saw many 

 large flocks, thousands and millions of sheep, which 

 were never housed. This was matter of surprise, es- 

 pecially considering the wetness of the climate ; and 

 these sheep were often exposed in fields where a dry 

 spot could not be found for them to lie down upon. 

 Sheep were often folded in England by wattled fences 

 or hurdles temporarily erected in different parts of the 

 field, and removed from place to place as the portions 

 of the crop were consumed. In some cases they were 

 folded and the turnips dug and carried to them. In 

 such case they were always fed upon lands which were 

 intended the next year to be, as far as practicable, 

 brought under cultivation. He had seen many labor- 

 ers in fields, employed in drawing the turnips, splitting 

 them, and scattering them over the land, for the use of 

 the sheep, which was considered better, often, than to 

 leave the sheep to dig for themselves. These labor- 

 ers would be so employed all winter, and if the ground 

 should become frozen, the turnips are taken up with 

 a bar. Together with the turnips, it is thought im- 

 portant that sheep should have a small quantity of 

 other food. Chopped hay, sometimes a little oil 

 cake, or oats, is usually given. This is called trough 

 food, as it is eaten in troughs, standing about in the 

 field. In so moist a climate as that of England, 



