SHEEP. 321 



much they relish it. All of which are the more than infallible hints that nature gives the 

 shepherd, that in supplying his sheep with an abundance from the &quot; green pastures,&quot; he 

 should forget not the &quot;still waters.&quot; 



Shade ill Sheep Pastures. A sufficient number of trees to give shade in pastures 

 during the sultry season to stock that may be pastured there, are of great value to any field. 

 A few spreading trees are not only attractive, and therefore an ornament to a pasture, but 

 are a necessity to the comfort and welfare of animals that may occupy it. 



Anything that contributes to the comfort of our domestic animals contributes in a corre 

 sponding degree to their profit, for without comfort and contentment among them, there will 

 not be any great degree of thrift, and no farmer has any reason to expect his sheep to thrive 

 without shelter from the scorching sun in the heated summer season, conditions that he 

 would find intolerable himself. 



Aside from the question of humanity, which ought of itself to be a sufficient reason for 

 restraining the owner of stock from permitting his ajtimals to be subjected to any species of 

 cruelty, the profits arising from rendering them comfortable will amply repay for the trouble 

 and expense involved; therefore where the sheep pastures are not already shaded by trees, 

 we would advise that cheap sheds be made in sufficient numbers to accommodate all with 

 shade, and thus render them comfortable. The labor and expense involved will be but a 

 trifle compared with advantages thus gained. As in considering the question of providing 

 water for sheep, their natural instincts are a sure and safe index of their necessities; and it is 

 a well known fact that they will eagerly seek shade when it is within their reach, and will 

 endeavor to make a shade by crowding together and dropping the head under each other s 

 bodies when no shade is to be found in the pasture. 



Some shepherds provide shade by means of cheap open sheds of boards; others by 

 throwing boughs upon a framework of posts and poles; better than either is a little grove of 

 trees of sufficient size to make a good shade for the whole flock. To obviate the danger of 

 developing and spreading infectious diseases by the flock spending so much time closely hud 

 dling together, the sheds (which may be made movable) can be occasionally moved to fresh 

 ground; or, if made permanent, the ground underneath can be thoroughly scraped, the 

 manure removed, and the place of rendezvous made fresh by plowing, thus bringing the cool, 

 clean soil to the surface to come in contact with the feet and bodies of the sheep. Every 

 man should &quot;be merciful to his beast,&quot; and nothing shows the quality of true manliness more 

 than kindness and mercy extended to aught that can suffer, whether it be to man or beast. 

 Hard and indifferent must be the nature of him who could impose needless suffering upon 

 so meek and patient an animal as the sheep, while, as we have previously stated, in consider 

 ing the profit, this comfort can be so easily obtained, and will result in so great advantage in 

 a money point of view, that no farmer or shepherd that has an eye to economy should fail to 

 give it the attention that the subject demands. 



Washing Sheep. The practice of washing sheep two or three weeks before shearing, 

 formerly so common, is recently becoming unpopular, and we hope the time will soon come 

 when it will be discarded entirely. &quot;We believe it not only an injurious custom, as far as the 

 flock and the washer are concerned, but it is a cruel one as well, to plunge such a timid 

 animal as a sheep into a stream of cold water, thus suddenly reducing the temperature of its 

 body several degrees, and half paralyzing the poor animal with fright; besides, they must of 

 necessity carry a wet fleece for some time, which will often be the cause of disease, such as 

 colds, catarrh, chills, fevers, rheumatism, etc., to say nothing of the discomfort or suffering 

 that may result. 



Washing is also a means of often spreading a contagious disease in a flock, such as foot 

 rot, or scab, by washing one or two animals affected by it in the same locality. It is some- 



