464 Transactions op tiie 



herder will almost need a saddle horse to be master of the situation. 

 For the sheep will neglect the dry grass of this season to devote most 

 of their time to hunting acorns. Some shepherds think acorns injurious, 

 and attribute all sorts of sheep ailments to them, such as stillborn 

 lambs, or malformed ones, or monstrosities. I have had ample experi- 

 ence of this feed to be in position to form an opinion, and have yet 

 found no injurious effects from sheep feeding as freely as they please on 

 acorns — it being understood, of course, that each corral or camping 

 place is at all times supplied with salt within reach of the sheep. This 

 provision will never be neglected on any properly managed sheep camp. 

 So far from acorns being injurious, I have found them excellent feed — ■ 

 provided only that they come in such quantity that the sheep need not 

 run too much in the effort to find them. Constant running and little 

 feed will soon pull down any sort of stock. 



WINTER. 



As Winter approaches, the herder must look for harder times. The 

 days are shorter as well as the grass; on too many ranches, no p ovision 

 whatever is made for the sheep at this season; and they are kept busy 

 from daylight to dark, picking up the amount of feed they require. On 

 many ranges, this feed is now of a very innutritious sort. 'During storms 

 of rain and wind, sheep feed but poorly anyhow. On the plains, they 

 often turn their backs to the storm and drift with it, and have to be 

 urged quite strongly to face it when it becomes necessary to go to camp. 

 In the hills at this season, latitude being equal, they fare better; for 

 there a friendly hillside may be found, comparatively sheltered from 

 the wind, and here they will feed. 



STRAW STACK. 



On the plains at this time a good long straw stack answers every pur- 

 pose, serving at once as a windbreak and furnishing food much superior 

 to the water-soaked grasses which have been deprived of almost all nu- 

 tritious substance by successive teachings. Mercy to dumb animals (to 

 say nothing of self-interest) calls for shelter and plenty of feed at this 

 season; but, in most places in California, a sufficient stack of straw is 

 all that is required during the month or six weeks between old and 

 new grass. Other shelter is also good, but she j p sometimes prefer to 

 be out in a good warm rain. I have often found, when keeping a small 

 flock at the barn, that they would all be lying down outside during 

 such a rain, though the barn doors were open. 



SHELTER. 



In breeding fine merino sheep, taking good care of them, letting the 

 wool grow a full year, housing during long-continued storms is, un- 

 doubtedly, required; for though the wool is close, and a rain of mode- 

 rate duration works no harm, yet after several days' rain the fleece 

 becomes perfectly saturated. On examination, in this condition, it will 

 be found that the fleece will open in a few places only, and will not 

 admit of the water being shaken out, as can be done with the open wool 

 breeds. The weight of such a fleece soaked full of water is something 

 enormous. The sheep will actually travel with difficulty under the 

 load. During terms of housing, the main flock need no feed beyond 



