314 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



the ground pole of the rack, and there is a barn far better than the most expensive covering 

 ever built by the amateur farmer. It protects them from rain and snow, and keeps their 

 , food dry, and prevents it from becoming worthless from tramping and defiling. Should the 

 flock become so large that all cannot eat at the same time, supplementary racks and shelters 

 could be erected by building a fence or plank wall four feet high, and sheltering and racking 

 both sides as their necessities may require. 



Nor does the advantage of the fold stop with the security of the sheep. It is said the 

 foot of a sheep is golden. During the day he distributes his rich manure over the pastures 

 in an admirable manner, carrying it where most needed on the Slpoes and thin soils of the 

 higher lands. By proper attention to raking, saving, and sheltering, here can be gathered 

 and garnered a rich store of plant food. And it is truly astonishing what a large amount of 

 valuable manure can be collected in a short time. The litter, such as straw or leaves, that 

 has been or should be spread under all the sheds, will become saturated with the urine, and 

 this, thrown on the general heap, generates an immense amount of ammonia, which, lodging 

 in the mass of decaying vegetable matter, makes a manure unexcelled by any.&quot; 



Food for Sheep. In England sheep are not given the run of the entire pasture as in 

 America, but are confined to certain limits by means of movable fences or hurdles, and thus 

 are given a portion of fresh ground each day, in addition to that of the preceding day or 

 two. This, of course, necessitates considerable trouble in constantly moving the fence, but 

 English farmers seem to consider this a profitable practice or they would not continue it. 

 Then, there is no waste; and a fresh supply of herbage is given the flock each day. In 

 spring the crop is winter rye, or rye and vetches. Later follows the clover and early turnips, 

 hay being always fed twice per day when turnips are given. Swedish turnips are the roots 

 that are usually most fed there during the winter. Although the English practice of hurd 

 ling flocks might not be considered profitable to the American farmer generally, where 

 there is no lack of land, and the farms in most portions are generally large, still we think it 

 would be far better for our flocks if a fresh field could be given them more frequently, even 

 though it might not be large, and the objection of constantly feeding over the same ground 

 avoided. This could be accomplished at slight labor and expense by dividing the pastures 

 into two or three sections and feeding them alternately; this practice would be better both 

 for the lambs and sheep, preventing too close cropping of the herbage, and providing better 

 food for the flock. 



Frequent change is necessary in order to keep the sheep contented, and unless it be 

 given them, they will become restless and jump out and seek fresh pasturage; therefore 

 it is better to give them a change as soon as they become uneasy. In order to do this, it is 

 well to divide the field by fencing, or&quot; if on an extensive range or ranch they should be 

 driven to another section. 



Good hay, composed of clover and the cultivated grasses, are among the best of sheep 

 food. Beans are especially adapted to sheep, of which they are very fond, being nutritious, 

 as well as valuable in the promotion of wool growth. Bean and pea straw, in fact all kinds 

 of straw, can be utilized by them also with profit, but it should always be cut and mixed 

 with bran, meal, or other kinds of food. Roots are especially adapted to them, and should 

 be given, for a time, at least, when making the sudden change from fresh grass to dry hay in 

 coming into their winter quarters, the juices of the roots making up in a measure the loss 

 of moisture in the green herbage. Some flock-masters consider this change the most critical 

 period during the entire year, as the sudden change of food is liable to induce disease, and 

 anything that will have a tendency to modify this sudden change of diet should be given if 

 practicable. Turnips should also be fed to ewes a few weeks before and after dropping their 

 lambs, to increase the milk production. Much grain is regarded by many injurious, 

 especially large quantities of corn, as it is considered too heating when given in large quanti- 



