252 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



tion of the excellent efficiency of this hoe as a labor-saving farm 

 implement of great value. 



Oats Injurious to Sheep. 



Mr. S. D. Whitehead, Licking county, Ohio, writes that the 

 sheep-growers of this vicinity think that oats fed in the berry will 

 kill sheep, but if fed in the straw they will not hurt them. What 

 says the Farmers' Club to this ? 



Mr. N. C. Meeker said the way to feed sheep is to commence 

 when there is a good stand of grass. Then there is no danger of 

 feeding oats either threshed or in the straw. 



Dr. Suodgrass. — The oat is too concentrated; the straw with 

 the oat makes a more satisfactory food. It would be well for 

 them to keep in mind that by heavy feeding they are gainers in 

 wool as well as in mutton. 



Mr. D. A. Covert, of New Jersey, said the ideas are erroneous 

 that oats will kill sheep, if fed in any form. Corn will produce 

 more wool than oats; but oats will produce more muscle than 

 corn. Farmers feed too lightly. The injury arises from this 

 source. He always feeds heavily, even to the amount of one 

 quart of corn or oats per day ot one feeding for every sheep. He 

 would feed one quart of good oats per head to breeding ewes. A. 

 fat sheep, he said, will yield more wool than a lean one. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — When sheep eat oats greedily, they 

 are liable to get choked. They are better than corn for ewes. 

 Corn produces the most wool. 



Sheep Disease. 



Mr. A. H. Coffin, Mansfield, Dutchess County, New York : "In 

 answer to an inquiry about sheep disease, I will give ray experi- 

 ence from which he and others may gather some hints. I lost, 

 during the months of July and August last, twenty out of fifty- 

 three lambs, by a disease something like the one he describes. 

 They were attacked in different ways, some by swelling of the 

 throat; some by a moderate relaxation of bowels; others no visi- 

 ble sign but dumpishness; these last would sometimes die in twelve 

 hours. Some would linger along for two weeks. I gave them 

 salt and sulphur in a trough smeared with tar; after attack, gave 

 Epsom salts, ipecac, weak ley, herb tea, and everything I could 

 think or hear of. Out of .twenty-four attacked, we cured four 

 only. I cut their ears, got but a drop of blood; gave two weak 



