In the year 1000 or thereabouts was written a dialogue
on country life—some of it is quoted in that "best seller," G. M. Trevelyan's History of England ; and I thought I had dis- covered in it an anticipation of Mr. Hosier's so-called new system of portable sheds and out-of-doors dairying. The passage seemed absolutely applicable. " I lead them back to their folds and milk them twice a day ; and their folds I move ; and I make cheese and butter, and I am true to my Lord." But there is one difference. The animals he milked were sheep, and the folds were sheep-folds. How long is it since sheep were thus milked in England ? A long time, but in Belgium milch sheep are still bred for their milk, and fetch a good price ; and it is a common belief that there is special value in the milk for certain constitutions. The yield approaches that of a goat.
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