State of Agriculture in Northumberland. 169 



to ewes in the grass-fields in certain quantities each day, but by 

 no means so many as they would consume if put upon the ground, 

 as it is considered to be more safe that they should not be too fat 

 at lambing, and that they should have grass along with turnips. 

 The hogs and fatting-sheep of the previous year, now 1^ year old, 

 which have not already gone to market, are put upon turnips in 

 October, or whenever the pastures cease to improve their con- 

 dition. The turnips required for cattle and for the ewe flock 

 are drawn off in alternate rows in the proportion of \, ^, or |, 

 as the convenience of the situation, the goodness of the crop, or 

 the quality of the land may dictate ; the remainder are then con- 

 sumed on the ground by the other sheep, which are confined by 

 nets, supported by and twisted round stakes, at intervals of 3 or 

 4 yards, which is the only folding that is applied to land in this 

 county. As the fields are large, and much of this kind of move- 

 able fencing is required in consuming turnips, nets are preferable 

 to hurdles, from being so much more portable, that the shepherd 

 can at any time, with no assistance but that of his dog to keep 

 back the sheep meanwhile, take in a fresh supply of food. A 

 net of 50 yards long, with strong cord at top and bottom to twist 

 round the stakes, costs \0s. or lis. At the beginning of the 

 season, and while turnips may yet be growing, such as are wanted 

 in the fold-yards are carted as required from the field ; but the 

 habit of going to the field day by day throughout the winter, at 

 one time injuring the land by carting up to the axles ; at another, 

 wasting labour and turnips by pulling them in frost, or digging 

 them from beneath snow, and generally bringing them at great 

 waste and expense in a very uncomfortable state to the cattle, is 

 almost entirely laid aside. Having determined on the quantity of 

 turnips to be drawn and the situation most convenient for storing 

 them, whether near the fold-yards or near some road of easy com- 

 munication with them, the farmer takes a good day and applies 

 sufficient force to the w^ork — some hands to pull and clean the tur- 

 nips, some to fill the carts, boys to drive quickly between, and men 

 to unload and deposit them ; and by judicious arrangement and 

 active proceeding he gets a greater quantity moved in the course 

 of one day, in cleaner condition and without injury to his land 

 by carting over it when wet, than could have been done at double 

 the cost by any other process. The modes of storing turnips are 

 various, according to the uses for which they are intended. To 

 fatten cattle in yards the best will be taken : it is usual to keep 

 such cattle on white turnips till about the end of the year and. 

 afterwards to give them swedes ; in either case the tops and 

 roots are taken off the turnips when pulled, taking care not to 

 cut into the bulb, as wounding it so, promotes decay : the tops are 

 spread out for the sheep, if they be following over the ground. 



