SHEEP, SWIXE, AXD OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 42 D 



and a half months, with a pound of oil cake, meal, or grain to 

 each sheep. When I commence feeding hay, if it is good early 

 cut clover, I generally reduce the quantit}'- of meal or grain one 

 half; but that depends on the condition of the sheep. If they 

 are not pretty fat, I continue the full feed of meal or grain with 

 their clover, and on both they fatten wonderfully fast. I have 

 fed buckwheat, a pound to each per day, half in the morning 

 and half at four in the afternoon, with wheat and barley straw." 



As the breeder wishes to avoid fat, the grain can be wholly 

 dropped, when the clover is substituted ; but if the sheep begin 

 to fall off, it should be resumed iu small q^uantities. The oats 

 and waste hay left in the racks by the sheep, if put into a sepa- 

 rate rack and sprinkled with brine, will be eaten by the sheep 

 for the sake of the salt. 



Prairie Management of sheep is essentially different from 

 that heretofore described. In the newer States land can be 

 purchased at one dollar and twenty-five cents the acre, and vast 

 pastures without claimants can be pastured, rent free. The 

 following letter will show how the thing is done. 



" To Hon. H. S. Randall. About the 29th of last July 1 

 started from Calhoun County, Michigan, with two droves of 

 sheep, about seventeen hundred in each drove. M}'' sheep stood 

 driving remarkably well, and arrived in northern Iowa about 

 the 10th of September. I found good feed, and about the time 

 winter set in my sheep were in fine order. I sold three hun- 

 dred, and prepared winter quarters for the remaining three 

 thousand. I erected my sheds two miles apart, where water 

 was convenient. I succeeded in getting a grove at each place, 

 and built my sheds fronting the grove and parallel with 

 each other, about five hundred feet long. I built them of 

 poles and posts from the groves, and covered them with straw. 

 The front posts wer^^ about six feet above ground, and the back 



