FERDiNCr Sheep for Market. 231 



spring they are one year old, need not be dropped imtil 

 April. During the last part of the fall, by the middle of 

 October, I connnence feeding this class of sheep, giving, 

 during the month of November, grain liberally, and they 

 should have access to a daily feeding of hay. The food for 

 this class of sheep should be fat and flesh forming sub- 

 stances, such as will produce groM^th as well as fat. To 

 full grown sheep, feed corn ; to lambs, oats, peas, corn, and 

 bran ; and I think it pays to raise roots to feed any fat- 

 tening sheep. I like a grade Merino the best to feed at 

 ■one year old. Select those that are not large. Sheep of 

 this age that are well fattened, weighing seventy or sev- 

 enty-five pounds, will bring as much per pound, and often 

 more, than those weighing one hundred pounds, the smaller 

 ones selling as early lambs. This class of sheep, generally, 

 are more profitable to feed than full grown ones, for three 

 reasons. The first cost is not more, and sometimes is less 

 per pound, the gain is greater on the same amount of feed, 

 and the selling price higher per pound. From my sheep 

 book I copy the following: Forty-four yearling grade 

 Merinos cost, in the fall, S2 per head ; average weight 

 December 1st, 55 lbs.; sheared and sold April 15th; 

 average weight after shearing, 72 lbs. ; gain, in 4^ 

 months, 17 lt)S. ; sheared 225 ft)S ; sold for $5.25 per 

 head, including wool. Two winters ago, I fed a lot 

 of half grade Cotswolds ; average weight, when com- 

 menced feeding, 50 tbs. ; cost, 6 cents per pound. January 

 8th, average weight, 62^ lbs. ; February 16th, average 

 weight, 69 lbs. ; March 30th, average weight, 75 ft»s. Sold 

 at that time at 8 cents per pound, or $6 per head. The 



