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PUMPKIN FEEDING. 



As fall comes on the grass is perhaps short and dry and there 

 is room for some artificial feeding. Of all the substances that may 

 be grown and fed to ewes and lambs in the fall none compare with 

 pumpkins. First, they may be grown so cheaply. Our practice is 

 to grow them in the corn where they are a catch-crop- of almost 

 clear profit. We find it necessary to plant a great many seeds in 

 order to get what pumpkins we need, owing to the ravages of the 

 small striped bug, and this is the only secret we have ever observed 

 in getting a crop of pumpkins. Certainly, they need rich soil. In 

 feeding we never remove the seeds as they are the richest parts 

 and the part that give to pumpkins their great value to the shep- 

 herd. Pumpkin seeds are among the best vermifuges known. They 

 destroy and expel tape worms and I think clean out many forms of 

 worms, certainly I do know that you may take an old ewe, her skin 

 white, her eye dull, every appearance of her being diseased, feed 

 her all the pumpkins she will eat for a few weeks and she will re- 

 new her youth. When we have them in abundance we haul them 

 out by the ton, simply strewing them about the pastures and allow- 

 ing the sheep to gnaw into them at their pleasure. 



CARE IN PUMPKIN FEEDING. 



Like many another good thing, however, pumpkin feeding may 

 be carried too far. There is danger that the pregnant ewe may be- 

 come too fat if allowed all the pumpkins she will eat. This is the 

 only danger and the remedy is easy. 



PUMPKINS FOR MILKING EWES. 



After the little lambs come is the time when pumpkins come in 

 good play. There is nothing so good for the milking ewe. Soon, 

 too, the little lamb will begin to nibble them. They will do him no 

 harm, though he will need stronger food with them, grain of some 

 sort. These pumpkins will keep indifmitely, and may be used until 

 about Christmas. 1 give this much space to the pumpkin because 

 it is of such easy culture and surely no farmer who is keeping sheep 

 need try to do without this help. 



