SHEEP PASTURES. 277 



to have a reserve grass pasture on which to graze 

 the sheep as occasion may require. For instance, 

 if sheep are grazed upon these crops when wet with 

 rain or even heavy dews, the treading of the land 

 at such times will tend to impact it and to break 

 down and befoul the food. It will also tend to 

 saturate the fleece with water, more especially when 

 the food is rank and tall. To avoid these hazards, 

 a grass pasture should be on hand where the 

 sheep may graze after rain and where they may 

 graze and rest at night. Such a pasture is always 

 opportune, as when an interval may occur during 

 which the other pastures may not be ready for 

 being grazed, and the variety thus furnished is also 

 helpful. 



Health of the Animals. The health of the 

 animals was exceptionally good. Five animals only 

 were lost during the three seasons of pasturing. Of 

 these, four died from hoven or bloat while feeding 

 on the clover in the grass pasture in the spring of 

 1896. The fifth animal died of what was diagnosed 

 as pneumonia. There was no instance of bloat 

 while feeding upon the other foods. 



Effects on Weed Growth.. Growing crops as 

 in the succession given above proved quite destruc- 

 tive to weed growth. But few weeds were given 

 time to mature because of the frequent stirring of 

 the land and also because of the cropping down by 

 the sheep. It is doubtful if any method could be 

 devised that would be so potent in quickly subduing 

 weeds in the soil and at so little cost. Early in the 

 season, while the weeds were juicy and tender, they 

 were usually the first food eaten by the sheep. But 

 later, some varieties, particularly summer grass 



