16 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



ASH OF DUNG. 



Silica 50.11 



Potash 8.32 



Soda 3.28 



Chloride of Sodium 14 



Phosphate of Iron 3.98 



Lime 18.15 



Magnesia ." 5.45 



Phosphoric Acid 7.52 



Sulphuric Acid 2.69 ' 



99.64 



When it is seen how much earthy matter is needed to build up 

 a healthy organism, and supply the waste of the sheep, it is evi- 

 dent that the food must be of a character consistent with these 

 demands, and if by reason of deficiency in the soil, these matters 

 are not supplied, the animal suffers, or is not fully developed. The 

 grasses or other herbage upon which the sheep subsist, must there- 

 fore be such as will supply the peculiar needs of the animal, or 

 they must be supplemented by additional food. When sheep feed 

 upon grasses deficient in the required earthy matters, they become 

 weak in constitution, and predisposed to disease. To prevent dis- 

 ease and keep the flock in health, the pasture must be supple- 

 mented by other feed which will supply the deficiency, and thus 

 the cost of maintaining the flock is increased. A pasture that will 

 supply all the necessary nutriment must contain those varieties of 

 grasses that have been found by experience most suitable for 

 sheep. Of the common grasses there are several varieties which 

 have a high reputation for this purpose. The best of these are of 

 a low growth and creeping habit, with fine, short herbage. The 

 grasses known as PJileum pratense, (Timothy) ; Arrhenatherum ave~ 

 naceum, (Tall Oat Grass); Poa annua, (Annual Spear Grass); 

 Poa pratensis, (Kentucky Blue Grass) ; Festuca ovina, (Sheep's Fes- 

 cue) ; Poa serotina, (False Red-Top) ; Agrostis vulgaris, (Red-Top) ; 

 Dactylis glomerata, (Orchard Grass,) when closely pastured ; Alope- 

 curus pratensis, (Meadow Foxtail,) with Trifolium repem, (White 

 Clover) ; or Plantago lanceolata, (the Narrow-leaved Plantain or Rib 

 Grass,) and some other common plants, form a desirable herbage 

 for sheep. The Buffalo Grass and the species of Bouteloua, com- 

 monly called mesquit grasses of the west, with the large variety of 

 leguminous wild plants, make up a pasture that cannot be excelled. 

 The occasional dressing of pastures with bone-dust, salt, and sul- 

 phate of lime, is of great service, and furnishes a supply of those 

 mineral matters which are indispensable. 



The value of the different pasture grasses are -shown by the fol- 



