ON LODGING, LITTER, &C. 25 



wool less by rubbing against each other ; can move 

 more freely ; and the ewes with young, and the new- 

 ly dropt lambs, are less exposed to injury. 



Q. What situation is it best to give to a home pen, 

 or fold ? 



A. The best exposures are to the south, south- 

 west, and south-east ; because the walls of the sheep 

 yard put the flock under shelter from the north, and 

 north-easterly winds, which the sheep resist, if in oth- 

 er positions ; but they are more oppressed with them. 

 Sheep scattered over a field, like wild animals, would 

 find shelter therein ; it is necessary then to place their 

 pen in the most sheltered part of the yard, and on a 

 descent, in order that the rain may run off. 



Q. What ought to be the height of the enclosure 

 of a home pen, to secure sheep against wolves ? 



A. Walls seven feet high have prevented wolves 

 from getting into a sheep pen near Montbard, where 

 there have been a great many sheep and dogs, for 

 more than thirty years. These w r alls were built of 

 stones, without mortar, and had necessarily open 

 joints, which would give the wolves a facility in 

 climbing them ; but they are terminated by small 

 stones, heaped up in the shape of an ass's back, to 

 the height of eight inches ; some of these stones 

 would fall, if the wolf should put his foot upon them 

 to get over: no derangement has been perceiv- 

 ed, which might have led to suspect attempts from 

 the wolves to get into the sheep yard, although their 

 tracks had been seen, where they had rambled round 

 the pen. 



