8i DOMESTIC ANIMALS. [Chap. I. 



tliaii one hundred of the fine-wooled sheep should be confined in the same 



yard, while the loug-wDoled will not thrive with more than twenty-five. A 

 hosjntal, snug and coniloi'table, should receive any slieep that may be weak 

 from age or disease, until, by careful feeding and nursing, they can be re- 

 turned to the flock. 



" It is the worst possible practice to allow the sheep to fall away in flesh, 

 as the grass fails in autumn. The increasing wool conceals the siirinking 

 carcass, much to the disappointment of the careless flock-masters. Better 

 confine them in the yard than allow them to ramble about in search of some 

 field of winter grain, which furnishes a Rttle green food, but too light to be 

 of any real value. 



" Whiter fodder should embrace, in addition to the dry food, a due pro- 

 portion of that which is green and succulent. Fine early-cut clover hay, 

 well cured — that from old meadows, consisting of a variety of grasses — 

 forms the best dry fodder. Economy demands that the quality should be 

 good, else much waste ensues ; yet the sheep is very fond of variety, and al- 

 most all of the so-called weeds become a choice morsel. The botanist knows 

 fail MX'U that a siieep-rauge will be most barren of the objects of his search. 

 The immortal Linnteus tested the plants most indigenous to Sweden by 

 offering them, fresh gathered, to the various domesticated animals. Horses 

 ate 26:2 species, and refused 212 ; cattle ate 276 species, and refused 218 ; 

 while sheep took readily- 385, and refused only lil species. For fattening, 

 add to the hay, roots, grain, or linseed, or cotton-seed meal. Tlio English 

 system of winder feeding on turnips in the field is here prevented by ex- 

 cessive cold. Use them in the yards in moderate weather. Sudden changes 

 from green to dry food, and the reverse, should be avoided. liegularity in 

 the hours of feeding is very important. 



" The amount of fodder varies M'ith the kind of sheep, though it is not 

 directly proportioned to the live weight. Ten small, fine wooled sheep will 

 eat as much as a cow, the larger ones requiring more. Two to two and a 

 half, or even three and one third per cent, of the live weight in hay value is 

 estimated by diflerent authors as daily required. 



" ISI'o other animals except calves should lie in the yards with sheep. The 

 losses from the horns of steers and the heels of colts more than balance any 

 supposed gain. As the breathing of the sheep on the hay does not of itself 

 render it distasteful to cattle, it may be gathered from the racks and fed in 

 another inclosure. 



" It is estimated that 300 lbs. of good hay will winter a small sheep, while 

 larger ones may take three times the amount. 



" Water is absolutely necessary to the thrift of the sheep in the winter. It 

 is best brought into the yards, as the steep banks of streams prove danger- 

 ous to the sheep. 



" Sedt may be provided in winter by a moderate salting of the ha}' — 

 two to four quarts a tun ; but excessive salting must be avoided, for with it 

 neither sheep nor cattle will thrive. 



