268 THE NATUEAL AND ARTIFICIAL FOOD OF 



as compared with those which got nothing. Again, the sheep 

 which had feeding continued on through the early part of the 

 lambing season (until " the grass," which was later than usual, 

 came) were appreciably better than those which had begun to 

 feed at the same time, but had been stopped feeding when 

 lambing started. 



The spring of 1882 was an excellent one, and sheep were as a 

 rule quite able to do without feeding. Only a few lean ones were 

 taken in to get corn. The lambs of those that were fed for two 

 years not only topped the lot when drawn, but there were fewer 

 small ones to come out, showing that the constitutions of the 

 ewes had been saved. 



1883— an open winter, with plenty of food, though rather wet. 

 Sheep were in good condition up till the end of the first week 

 of March. A vile month of east wind and hard, frost followed, 

 binding the draw-moss, which had begun to pull early, and 

 withering up every green thing. In some places the snow was 

 very deep, but with us there was little. The lean sheep, which 

 had been in and feeding before the storm began, and were fed 

 on through it, excepting those with bad constitutions, brought 

 good lambs. Some lots on the hill were begun to be fed at once, 

 and some later as the storm lasted. The sooner the feeding 

 began the better was the result. Some tliat were fed only during 

 two weeks at the end of the storm did better than those that had 

 none. 



These remarks apply to all of the sheep fed, with the 

 exeption of one small " heft " of about 100, which, although it 

 was well fed during the necessary time in 1881 and 1883, failed 

 nevertheless to give the results expected of it and obtained from 

 the others. The grain brought up the number of lambs to 

 above the average of those not fed, but the quality was not up to 

 the standard desired. We are inclined to believe that the com- 

 parative failure had to do with someting else than the feeding, 

 as the " run " and " downfall" of this particular lot had been 

 altered. Independently of this, we ought not to put too much 

 weight on sucli a small test, when so much larger ones alongside 

 of it have proved quite satisfactory. 



Sheep, which have not been accustomed to eat from troughs 

 while young, are at first afraid, but most will do so, in a few days, 

 if a small number understand it, and show the wav. Those that 

 persistently refuse (and there are some would stand by for months 

 and never learn by the force of example) require to be taken in, 

 and a little grain put into each of their mouths, also keeping a 

 trough with corn in the fold, into which they are again let 

 loose to stand for an hour or so. This seldom requires to be 

 repeated more than once or twice. The hoggs each year should 

 be taught at the earliest opportunity, so that no time may 



