( 272 ) 



No IV. 



Of 'prefer ving Sheep from the Rot, 



IT is neceflary to obferve, that in wet fea- 

 fons, or on any fufpicious grounds, when Ihcep 

 are more liable to be attacked with the rot, ic 

 is very dangerous to keep changing them about 

 — a pra6tice very general in fome parts of the 

 kingdom. The lefs they are moved the bet- 

 ter. When you put as many fheep into fix 

 acres as fixty would keep for a continuance j 

 it obliges them to eat every part of fo fmall a 

 pafture : and when land is perfectly found and 

 dry, I doubt not its being equally profitable — 

 perhaps more fo. But if land be wet, that can- 

 not be the cafe ; as fuch a number will tread | 

 it to d^rt in a very little time. 1 have reafon 

 to believe that Ihecp, by nature, do not choofe 

 to eat land in parts which caufe the rot. The 

 rot, indeed^ is more frequently occafioned by 



fcanty 



