70 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



GRADE MERINO AND COTSWOLD, AVERAGE GAIN, 10f LBS. 



Feed consumed. Gain in weight. Ibs. of feed for 1 Ib. of gain. 



40 Ibs. of hay. 8y 4 Ibs. 12 Ibs. 



30 Ibs. of corn. ?y a Iks. 4 Ibs. 



MEBINOS, AVERAGE GAIN, 7 1 /* LBS. 



Feed consumed. Gain in weight. Ibs. of feed for 1 Ib. of gain. 

 40 Ibs. hay. 8y 4 Iks. 13 Ibs. 



30 Ibs. corn. 4 Ibs. ?y a Ibs. 



COTSWOLDS, AVERAGE GAIN, 5y 4 LBS. 



Feed consumed. Gain in weight. Ibs. of feed for 1 Ib. of gain. 

 40 Ibs. hay. 8i/ 4 Ibs. 13 Ibs. 



30 Ibs. corn. 2 Ibs. 15 Ibs. 



These different flocks were evidently uneven in quality, and as 

 Mr. Geddes, who sold the first flock to Mr. Watkins, is an excellent 

 and experienced farmer and stock feeder, it may easily be sup- 

 posed that the sheep were in excellent condition and well pre- 

 pared for fattening. The productive value of corn, in the case of 

 this flock, may well be considered as exaggerated, as in the other 

 instances it would be diminished by reason of the poorer quality 

 of the sheep. A mean may therefore be taken, and the gain result- 

 ing from feeding the corn estimated as between the two gains 

 of 4 and 7-J-, thus giving an average of about 6 Ibs. , and bringing 

 corn to an equality of value with barley or linseed cake, if not 

 showing it to be superior to either. If the result of feeding the 

 first flock be taken as the basis for the estimate, it would certainly 

 show corn to be a feed of the highest value for fattening sheep ; 

 but one result can hardly serve as a basis upon which to found 

 such a rule. Mr. R J. Swan, of Geneva, N. Y., in a communica- 

 tion in the Third Vol. of Rural Affairs, stated his plan of winter 

 feeding ; he gives to each hundred fattening sheep, two bushels, 

 (126 Ibs.), of corn, or the same quantity of oil-cake-meal per day, 

 with wheat straw in racks three times a day, up to the 1st day of 

 March ; afterwards feeding hay instead of straw, and reducing the 

 corn or oil-cake-meal one-half. The lambs are fed hay three times 

 a day, with three pecks of oil-cake-meal, or corn-meal, per 100. It 

 is to be presumed that hay is fed ad libitum, although this account 

 would have been more satisfactory had the quantity fed been 

 stated. In a prize essay by Mr. Jurian Winne, of Albany County, 

 N. Y., the following hints for the winter feeding of sheep are 

 given : " By feeding liberally with roots, and not too much gram, 

 during the first week at least, the change from green feed to dry 

 will be less apt to affect the sheep. In feeding, unless a person 

 can do it himself, which is very seldom the case, the feeder should 



