CHAPTER VI. 

 Management, Feeding, etc., of Sheep. 



SHELTER. 



THE natural habit of sheep is to range at liberty, and 

 that, too, over a wide extent of country ; therefore, 

 confinement is ever to be avoided, except under 

 peculiar circumstances. At the same time, all sheep- 

 farmers must be aware of the positive necessity of 

 their being sheltered sometimes ; and it will be 

 universally acknowledged that those which are pro- 

 tected from storms and much wet always thrive the 

 best. Therefore, on all sheep-farms, sheds or other 

 shelter should be provided for the animals in case of 

 need. 



DRIFTING SNOW. 



In all mountainous countries sheep are liable to be 

 overtaken by sudden falls of snow, and few situations 

 afford natural shelter. Therefore large circular 

 enclosures should be constructed of turf or stone, 

 into which the sheep should be driven on the approach 

 of snow. These should generally be on the south or 

 west sides of the hill, as snow-storms usually proceed 

 from the north or east. This should always be 

 situated on dry ground, and advantage taken of any- 

 natural shelter, such as an elevated rock, or side of a 

 ravine. The walls of turf enclosures should be four 



