206 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



sheep : do not depend on cisterns, pails, or snow. I have seen, 

 as no doubt all of you who have fed sheep have witnessed 

 many times, the sheep leave their grain, and visit the water- 

 ing-trough, drink of the pure water, and then return to their 

 feed again ; but you never saw them leave their grain for the 

 purpose of eating snow, or drinking from a bucket or tank 

 of water that is only replenished once in twenty-four hours. 

 Secure running water for your sheep if possible, although 

 they may survive if they have plenty of snow to eat. 



Sheep need good air, and not too 'many together, to do well. 



I would not have more than twenty-five or thirty in a lot 

 for feeding, and those very nearly of the same grade and 

 size. Keep them " high and dry," even if a little cold, rather 

 than low, damp, and close, though warm. In the former case 

 you will not discover any of the diseases to which sheep 

 are incident ; while in the latter you will be troubled before 

 spring with a large number of pelts without the carcasses. 



What I have said has been applied to the feeding of spring 

 lambs. The same rules, however, will apply to the feeding 

 of older sheep ; and, with the following rules to govern you, 

 success must surely attend your efforts. 



1st, Raise your sheep for feeding, if possible ; otherwise 

 purchase direct of those who do raise them. If you have 

 not judgment sufficient to buy your sheep, you had better 

 keep out of the business of feeding. 



2d, Be regular and systematic in your feeding, and raise 

 what corn, hay, and roots you feed to them. 



3d, Sell your sheep as near as you can to those who 

 consume them, thereby saving to yourself from ten to one 

 hundred per cent of the profits that otherwise go to the 

 middle-men and speculators. 



Permit me to digress a little from my subject proper, suffi- 

 ciently to state that the time has passed when the feeders 

 of sheep in this vicinity are obliged to sell their flocks to the 

 middle-men, or not at all. Thanks to a higher standard of 

 farming, with more independence and intelligence ! The 

 feeder of sheep can take his car-loads to Union Market, and 

 sell them to the butchers there for their value, just as well as 

 anybody outside ; and the cry that the sheep-trade is con- 

 trolled by one man, or a set of men, is a delusion, a subter- 

 fuge, a part of the game to suck from you, brother-farmers 



