FOLD

(Sax. fealdc.) A temporary enclosure for ksteto ing cattle or other agricultural animals together, either, tor the purpose of protection during night, or jointly for protection and feeding. Sometimes, also, sheep ure folded for die purpose of manuring. The barrier of which folds are constructed is commonly wooden hurdles; but sometimes, when the fold is only to contain ewes and lambs, netting stretched betw een posts i< made use of, there being a Strong rope lived to die lower parts of the posts close to ihe ground, to which the under edge of the netting is attached, while its upper edge is attached to a rope stretched along the tops of the same posts. The practice of folding sheep on naked fallows, with a view to manuring them, is slill common in several parts of England; but the more improved sheep fanners consider that it deteriorates the wool, and Impedes the fattening of the sheep, by keeping them for die greater part of the night wholly without food. Fold. In Painting, the doubling or lapping of one piece of drapery over another. [s. 477]