SUMMER MANAGEMENT. 199 



properties of their wool which adaptates it to the manufacture 

 ■of the finest and softest fabrics ; but on the other hand, if 

 these breeds are removed to rich pastures, these valuable 

 qualities of the ileece become in a measure deteriorated. 

 This is unquestionably true if the removal is permanent, but 

 will prove in nowise injurious if a change is made from up- 

 land to valley herbage at short and frequent intervals. In- 

 deed, this- is highly proper, as that variety of food, so con- 

 ducive to the health and thrift of the animal, is thereby af- 

 forded. 



From old or natural to the cultivated grasses, alternately 

 once a week or fortnight, the flock-master will learn," from 

 observation, suits well the inclinations of sheep. In keeping 

 with this, they should be allowed occasionally the range of 

 open wood-lands, to brouse upon forest shoots, the slight 

 acidity of which is much to their liking. 



A further argument in favor of frequent change of pasture, 

 is the fact that if sheep are confined too long on one enclo- 

 sure, no matter how good the feed may be, it becomes taint- 

 ed by their constant wanderings over it ; and hence, from 

 their nice habits and extraordinary- keenness of smell, will 

 neglect it. When the flock is seen nosing here and there 

 without eating contentedly, lose no time in removing them, 

 even if the pasture to which they are taken is shorter and 

 less abundant. It will be fresh and untainted, which is al- 

 ways reason enough for the change. 



Connected with frequent, shiftings of their pasture, is the 

 necessity of small enclosures. This is well understood to 

 be the right policy in England, and, where feasible, is rigidly 

 adhered to. " In an enclosed country sheep generally do 

 best when they are separated into sftiall parcels ; they feed 

 more quietly, and they waste less. When as many sheep 

 are put upon a fair-sized pasture as it will properly keep, 

 they will be cleared off for market considerably earlier than 

 if they were put in large ^numbers on extensive grounds. 

 Grass land, in small divisions, will keep and fatten many 

 more sheep than when they are of a greater extent."* 

 Some of the writer's fields are lai^ge, but mostly from ten to 

 fifteen acres — and he has learned the fact that 100 sheep 

 will do better on twenty-five acres if divided, than on thirty 

 acres with no division. 



* Farmer'a Series. 



