256 PRAIRIE MANAGEMENT IN WINTER. 



in contact with, in dry weather, between the stools of grass 

 in the natural pastures. If the disease does not appear on the 

 western prairies, I shall be disposed to attribute it to the 

 same causes, where both exist, or entirely to the last. During 

 active stages of the malady, dry dust might rather aggravate 

 its symptoms than otherwise ; but it has long been known 

 that it will " dry up " and cure the old and partly subdued 

 ulcers of the feet. Eastern farmers sometimes drive their 

 sheep over dusty roads for this express purpose. 



I am not aware that there are any other serious ovine 

 maladies which are either peculiar to the prairies, or peculiar 

 for not prevailing on them : although it is not at all improba- 

 ble that further experience and closer observation may develop 

 a number of this class. 



SAI/T. On the prairies, as elsewhere, salt is justly 

 regarded as indispensable. It is usually fed once a week, 

 about 40 pounds to a thousand sheep. 



WEANING LAMBS. The lambs are weaned about the first of 

 September, when the prairie grasses in the North have be- 

 come too tough and dry to put them into proper condition for 

 winter. Accordingly the best prairie shepherds have a fresh 

 field of domestic grass generally blue-grass to put their 

 lambs on at weaning. Most of them have the corn-field, which 

 is to subsist the sheep during the winter, next to the lamb 

 pasture, and allow the lambs to run in each at will. This is 

 done not only for the immediate benefit of the lambs, but to 

 accustom them to eat corn before -winter. Some sow the 

 corn-field itself to winter rye, at the last plowing. This 

 aifords fall feed for the lambs, and good spring feed for the 

 breeding ewes. And it is very common to turn the lambs on 

 the stubbles to eat down the sprouts of the scattered grain. 



Turnips, of suitable kinds, sown broadcast on the inverted 

 prairie sward, would be likely to do extremely well on soils 

 so rich and deep and so destitute of weeds ; and they would 

 furnish cheap and admirable fall feed for sheep of all ages. 



PRAIRIE MANAGEMENT IN WINTER. In regions where 

 the pasturage is perennial, as in parts of Texas, and in 

 latitudes much higher north on our Pacific coast, the winter 

 management of sheep does not vary sufficiently from the 

 summer management to require separate description. The 

 sheep are daily driven out on the prairie in the same way, 



