No. 85. J 261 



<lers the shed much warmer. For sheep in poor condition, warmth 

 in winter is essential ; and if they can be entirely sheltered from all 

 the winds, it will prevent much mortality among them. Fat sheep 

 do not feel the cold so sensibly, but all will run for shelter in a storm, 

 if it can be obtained. Another subject as regards sheep husbandry, I 

 will touch upon, and that is, watering them in winter when fed on 

 hay. An opinion used formerly to prevail, that sheep did not require 

 to be watered during winter — that if they could get at snow, it would 

 be sufficient. This, I am satisfied by the best of all possible authori- 

 ties (experience,) is wrong. They require it twice a day as regularly 

 as any other animal. I will relate this fact. I confined about one 

 hundred wethers in a lot, where they were to be kept for the winter; they 

 had shelter, and hay for food, but could not obtain water except as it 

 fell in rains. I noticed, after being so confined a few weeks, that 

 they lessened in flesh. In a week's time more, I again visited them, and 

 saw that they were gradually growing thinner. I ordered a better 

 quality of hay, although the first was at least of ordinary quality. I 

 spoke to my shepherd about it, and he took from the flock a few of 

 the poorest, and had them brought to the barn, where they could be 

 both fed and watered ; these gave him no more trouble, but it still did 

 not occur to me that the main flock were suffering from want of wa- 

 ter, as there was an abundance of snow. Another person, w^ho saw 

 them shortly after this, happened to make the suggestion that it might 

 be want of water that was the cause of the mischief. I at once took 

 up the thought, and directed that an opening be made to the brook, 

 whence they could be daily watered. It was so done, and I could in 

 a few weeks' time observe that the flock had improved, and for that 

 winter I had no more trouble with them. Since then, I have had the 

 fact repeatedly brought to my notice by others, and no truth can ever 

 be more satisfactorily established. I make these few remarks in re- 

 lation to a part of my practice in sheep husbandry. It is a subject 

 sufficiently extensive to admit much more being said upon it, but for 

 the present I forbear, as I do not wish to occupy too much time. I 

 will only further say that that there is a common remark when a fool- 

 ish act is done by an individual, that he is " silly as a sheep." My 

 observation of the habits of sheep has induced me to believe that they 

 have powers beyond instinct, and have more intelligence than they 

 are usually credited with. Dr. B. continued his remarks on several 

 other points, and explained satisfactorily his process of farming for 

 the improvement of his lands, while thus rearing a flock that now 

 amounts to eight hundred sheep. 



Mr. Howard said he agreed with the President in his high estimate 

 of the value of shelter to sheep — he thought it a very important point, 

 not merely on account of the benefit to the animal, (though this was 

 very great,) but as a saving of expense in feeding. Keep an animal 

 in a comfortable state, and he requires much less food, and what he 

 does eat, produces the desired effect. Sheep require protection from 

 the hot sun as well as from storms, and should always have shelter of 

 some kin J, The forest might sometimes aff'ord a tolerable substitute 



