ON THE FOLDING OF SHEEP. 117 



with uprights, a little thicker than the branches : 

 hurdles are likewise made of bars, put together, or 

 simply nailed upon uprights. In hurdles of hazle 

 wood, three openings of six inches square are made 

 at the height of four feet, one of them being at 

 each end, and one in the middle ; those at the ends 

 are called votes openings. 



Q. How are these hurdles put up to form a fold ? 



A. They are put up one at the end of another in 

 four lines, so as to form a square, and they are sup- 

 ported by cross pieces, which are bent at one of the 

 ends. The hurdles lap a little upon each other, in 

 such a manner that the two openings come to- 

 gether, and that the ends of the cross pieces may pass 

 through them. The cross piece is bored with two 

 holes, in which are put two pins, the one behind and 

 the other before the upright : the other end of the 

 cross piece is then brought down to the earth, and is 

 bent and bored with a notch, in which a key is put, 

 and driven into the earth with a mallet. Cross pieces 

 are not necessary at the corners of the pen. It is 

 sufficient to tie the uprights together with a line at 

 the corners, where they touch each other, by passing 

 it through the six inch square holes above mentioned. 



Q. What ought to be the size of a sheep-pen or 

 fold? 



A. The size of the pen or fold should be in pro- 

 portion to the number of sheep, which are intended 

 to be put into it ; because it is proper, that a flock 

 should spread dung and urine enough to fertilize the 

 ground enclosed : each sheep can manure ten feet 



