SHEEP. 



management on the more rich lands of the mardi kind, they 

 mud vary much according to the nature of the methods 

 which are purfued by different ftieep-grazing and fattening 

 farmers, as fome will make their land carry nearly one-third 

 more flock than others, though the quahty of it may be 

 the fame, while fuch flock will do equally well, if not bet- 

 ter. Such commonly make the largeil profits as have con- 

 ftantly the bell fupply of additional fheep-flock to fucceed 

 fuch as are taken away, and who regard the number more 

 than the quality of them. The fattening praftice may like- 

 wife be carried further than is proper and beneficial, by which 

 the profits of the individuals will be leffened, and a lofs fuf- 

 tained by the nation at large. The nature of the breeds of 

 this fort of flock will have fome influence, as they make a 

 more or lefs quick return, and as they may come to a more 

 cheap or dear market. The bell way in general, is to fell 

 the fat ftock of this fort when ready, without waiting, but 

 which is not always the cafe. Where more returns than one 

 are made in the year, there is commonly the mofl profit made 

 to the fheep-farmer ; and the pratlical management which is 

 had recourfe to in fuch cafes, will have a great efteft on the 

 profits, as different rich (heep-fattening diflridls have many 

 different praftices, which are more or lefs profitable, as that 

 of flocking the land with fheep, at the rate of three to the 

 acre, from the beginning of one autumn to that of another, 

 and having recourfe to mixed flock of other forts during 

 the fummer for producing the profits : that of flocking 

 with barren ewes which have had lambs, at the fame time, 

 but only at the rate of two to the acre, fo that the keep 

 may render them in a great meafure fat by the beginning of 

 the new year, and they may be fold off in March or the fol- 

 lowing month, in their wool, fo as that the advance in their 

 price may more than compenfate for having it, by keeping 

 them on until May. And after thefe are gone, by again 

 flocking the fame land with fheep brought in from the mar- 

 kets, fairs, hills, or neighbouring high grounds, or the two- 

 years old wethers that have been kept out, or, which is per- 

 haps the beft flock in thefe cafes, with fuch tegs as have been 

 well kept through the winter, and which are equal in weight 

 with ilarved or Hunted two-yearlings. This is a mofl pro- 

 fitable fheep-fattening fyllem, where it can be carried into 

 praftice, that of putting, what are denominated made bar- 

 rens, or fuch ewes as have miffed going to lamb, upon the 

 fattening land ; but as thefe will not form the neceffary 

 fupply of flock, other fheep or mixed flock mult be 

 provided to produce fufficient profit. It is never a good 

 praftice to turn poor lean fheep direftly upon the rich fat- 

 tening lands, but to keep them fome time on the inferior 

 paftures, as they are in danger of becoming difeafed by the 

 former method. But half-fat fheep may be put immediately 

 upon them without danger, and be fed out, often in the 

 courfe of two months or lefs, by which the fheep-grazing 

 farmer is enabled to have another return, which may con- 

 tribute greatly to his profits. 



In the fheep-fattening fyllem, it is often of advantage to 

 have a portion of land, of a fuperior rich quality, for the 

 purpofe of finifhing them out upon ; as by fuch means not 

 only more fheep can be fed out and returned, than if the re- 

 gular quantity of ftock was kept upon the different fields, 

 but the lefs rich paftures be ftocked in a more clofe manner, 

 and as the more quick feeding iheep advance, be taken into 

 the rich finifhing portion. 



There are feveral other circumftances which have much ef- 

 fedl in this fyflem of fheep management ; but the profits 

 will materially depend on the proportion, the richnefs, and 

 the quality of the farmer's fattening to his other lands, on 

 the judgment which he poffefles in the buying in lean flock, 



the nature of the feafon, the ftate of the markets, the 

 loffes fuflained, the expences of the management, &c. a* 

 already feen. 



Though the fize of fheep is by no means a point of much 

 confequence in the breeding practice, it fliould not on any 

 account be overlooked in that of fattening. 



The average profit of middling-fized fat rich paflure 

 fheep may be Hated to be from about one pound to one 

 pound four or five, or even ten fhillings, or even more in 

 fome cafes. 



Folding-Managetnent of Sheep — In the management of 

 fheep there is a praAice made ufe of in fome diftrifts, which 

 remains to be noticed ; and which is that of folding. It was 

 formerly thought to be indifpenfably neceffary to the fuccefs 

 of the farmer in different diftri£ls ; but of late a different 

 opinion has prevailed, except in particular cafes, and it is 

 confidered as merely enriching one field at the expcnce of 

 another. The praftice may, however, be beneficial where 

 there are downs, heaths, or commons. The ideas of farmers 

 are not, however, uniform on this fubjeft, as will be 

 fhewn by the following details from the Norfolk or Hert- 

 fordfhire Reports on the agriculture of thefe dillrifts. In 

 the former it is remarked, that near Brandon there is a prac- 

 tice, introduced about ten years ago, faid to be from Kent, 

 which is, to fold their flocks for five or fix hours in the mid- 

 dle of the day in hot weather. And that, in laying out 

 the inclofures of the farm at Waterden, from fifteen to fifty 

 acres each, much attention was paid in the arrangement to 

 have every field of the farm to open into a lane, that leads 

 through the whole, fo that by dividing the flock for flock- 

 ing, according to varying circumftances, Mr. Hill can keep 

 atleafl one-fourth more than when all the breeding ewes and 

 lambs were in one flock, and the food dirtied by driving to 

 fold : by this means there is not a bent on the farm, the 

 flocking being equal. He is not, however, entirely with- 

 out a fold : when the lambs are weaned (ufually about old 

 Midfummer) the ewes are folded for about two months, 

 principally to prevent their breaking paflure, when the 

 lambs are taken from them : and while thus folded, he finds 

 that it takes one-half more land to feed them than if they 

 were left allotted, as through the reft of the year. That 

 folding lefTens the value of the lambs he has not a doubt, and 

 that confiderably ; they do not bring fo high a price as 

 others not folded. This is not opinion, but fadl. The 

 ewes are alfo in doubly better condition, from lying ftill and 

 quiet. That the leath will, in certam cafes, be unequally 

 given, he does not deny ; but it is not difficult to remedy 

 this by the dung-cart ; to fold a lot in its own lay, is alfo a 

 remedy, and is the only fort of folding he can approve. In 

 regard to the cffeft on wool, he is clearly of opinion that 

 folding does not render it finer, it makes the fleece lighter, 

 but never finer. And folding is generally given up by all 

 who have South Downs ; not becaufe they will not bear it, 

 for they bear it better than any Iheep in the ifland ; but be- 

 caufe the ftock is fo valuable that it is worth the farmer's- 

 attention to contrive, by every means, to keep as many 

 as poffible. And it is added, that one circumftance, though 

 a fmall one, deferves mentioning, for the ufe of thofe who 

 form feparating Iheep-pens : which is, that Mr. Hill has 

 fliding-gates from one to the other ; the writer remarked 

 that when a pen is full of fheep, the gates cannot be opened 

 with convenience ; but by their Aiding in the fence, this is 

 avoided in a very eafy manner. 



Further, Mr. England, of Binham, does not fold. When 

 not folded, he thinks, fheep do with lefs food ; and as to the 

 common objeAios, of their drawing under hedges for fhelter, 

 in ftorms, Sec. fo much the better ; it is what they ought 



9 not 



