230 
ON THE GEOLOGY AND STATISTICS 
an ample increase of food for the winter-famished flock. 
From the overstocking of the commons, which occupy the 
heights and sides of the Snowdon chain, the sheep, averag- 
ing little more than 7 tt) a quarter, are small, barely clad 
with wool, which, though fine, seldom exceeds i ft in a 
fleece ; and are not in that well fed condition to bear the 
deprivations of a winter storm. Consequently, from the 
sheep-farmer having no green food or hay to spare for his 
flocks during that season of the year, numbers annually 
perish. 
The cattle, from want of adequate food, are small ; but 
being fed with a little hay in winter, do not suffer so much 
as the sheep. As one of the articles of food at this season, 
and during the early part of spring, it may be remarked, 
that the furze, or large French whin, is raised in consider-^ 
able quantities, and is employed as food for the horse and 
cow. It is prepared by bruizing it in small water-mills, 
erected for that purpose. The water-wheel is made to turn 
an axle, on which are fixed, at right angles to it, several 
iron spikes ten inches long, and these are made to revolve 
within a large circular wooden cover, twelve inches in dia- 
meter, similarly fitted up with spikes ; and these spikes of 
the axle, in their revolution, pass between those of the cir- 
cular wooden cover. A small hopper is attached to the 
top of the circular cover, which, holding the furze, it is in 
this way brought into contact with these iron teeth, and is 
soon crushed into a state fit for the food of animals. 
This side of the Menai basin is scantily furnished with 
wood. The thin soil covering the western declivity of the 
Snowdon chain, and the violence of the frequent south- 
westerly winds, render this district very unfavourable to 
the growth of it. Tradition says, that the Snowdon range 
was formerly covered with wood ; and the name which it 
received, after Edward the First's entrance into North 
