SHEEP. 345 



general health good, and they render their winter forage 

 nearly equal to their summer feed. Much grain is not suited 

 to store-sheep. It is too rich, and should be given sparingly 

 pt to the lambs, the old ewes or feeble sheep, or to restore 

 the rains after hard service. For the above purposes, oats 

 arc tho host ; and if any other grain, beans or peas are given, 

 it should be in small quantities. When there is a deficiency 

 of hay and roots, grain may be used with straw. But the 

 Hock ought to be so fed as receive the same amount of nour- 

 ishment throughout every part of the year. The evenness 

 and value of the fleece depends much upon this. When the 

 amount of nutrition is great, the wool secreting organs are 

 distended, and the fibre becomes enlarged ; when limited, 

 they necessarily contract and the fibre is small. This pro- 

 duces a want of trueness, which the' experienced stapler readily 

 detects, and does not fail to estimate against the value of the 

 fleece. Sheep ought to have a full supply of salt, and if 

 accessible, sulphur, ashes, tar and clay would frequently 

 be nibbled by them when their stomach required either. Pine 

 or hemlock bouglis are a good substitute for tar, and afford a 

 most healthful change in the winter-food of sheep. Entire 

 cleanliness and dry ness are also essential to the health of the 

 flock. The smaller sizes of the Saxon may be well sustained 

 on two pounds of hay, but larger sheep will consume from 

 three and a half to four, or even five pounds per day. Sheep 

 like all other animals when exposed to cold, will consume 

 much more than if well protected, or than during a warmer 

 season. 



The care of the ewes wi'h young, is an important consider- 

 ation, as the lamb is sometimes the only profit yielded by the 

 flock, for when fodder is high or wool low, the fleece will 

 barely pay for the food and attention. Pregnant ewes 

 require the same food as at all other times, but caution is 

 necessary to prevent injury or abortion, which is often the 

 result of excessive fat, feebleness or disease. The first may 

 be remedied by blood-letting and spare diet, and both the last 

 by restored health and generous focd. Sudden fright, as from 

 dogs or strange objects ; long or severe journeys ; great exer. 

 tions ; unwholesome food ; blows in the region of the foetus, 

 and some other causes produce abortion. 



Yeaning. Most flocks are turned into the pasture before 



yeaning time, and the ewe is then left to nature, which is a 



good practice if she is healthy and the weather good. But 



a larger number-of lambs will be reared by a careful over- 



O* 



