92 FITTING SHEEP FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 



sidered it is, of course, important that the mixing room 

 be adjoining the sheep barn, in fact, the main door of the 

 root cellar should open directly into the sheep barn. This 

 prevents any danger of the pulped roots becoming frozen. 

 Frozen roots are, of course, decidedly injurious to breed- 

 irrg ewes, or, in fact, any class of stock. It is advisable 

 to mix enough for a full day's ration at a time, care being 

 taken that the pile is not allowed to heat; this being pre- 

 vented by seeing that the pile be not over a foot or eighteen 

 inches in height. If the weather be very cold it should be 

 covered with old. blankets, sacks or something that will pre- 

 vent freezing. 



Regularity in Feeding. 



I have always considered that sheep thrive better on p'oor 

 rations regularly fed than on better rations when fed irregu- 

 larly. Regularity in feeding is one of the most valuable 

 secrets possessed by the shepherd. Sheep, although not 

 generally thought to be so intelligent as many other species 

 of our domestic animals, are nevertheless very sensitive to 

 every minute that passes after* the usual feeding hour has 

 arrived. Just as soon as that hour comes they announce 

 its arrival by restlessness and continual bleating. Bleating" 

 means wear and tear of the sheep's anatomy, therefore it 

 must be clear that the more regular we are in administering 

 to their wants the less wear and tear there is on their 

 system, and the less food it takes to keep them in condi- 

 tion. 



Were our prominent exhibitors irregular in their methods 

 of feeding they could never bring out their exhibits in the 



