FOOD. GOl 



but oil of tar may be substituted for the turpentine, being 

 considerably cheaper. 



The method employed in sheep-shearing is so well known^ 

 that a detailed account of it is unnecessary. 



FOOD. 



It is considered prejudicial to change the food of sheep 

 frequently, as it has a tendency to derange the regular 

 action of the bowels, and to induce disease. Sudden 

 change from one kind of pasture to another is certain to 

 afiect sheep, more particularly in the spring and autumn. 

 In the summer and winter, when mountain-pasture is nearly 

 dried up, the animals enjoy good health It is, however, 

 more dangerous to change suddenly from poor to rich diet, 

 than the reverse. 



Sheep thrive best where there is a tolerable uniformity of 

 pasture all the year round. If the ground is wet, with the 

 water standing on it here and there, that is quite unfit for 

 pasturing sheep. Peat-ground is far less objectionable. 

 Strong, rank grass is exceedingly liable to produce rot in 

 sheep. 



There is no better spring food for sheep than rye-grass 

 and red clover ; the former comes in most appropriately 

 after turnip feeding. Cole, tares, and rye are likewise of 

 much consequence as spring food. 



For winter feeding, nothing is better than turnips, whinh 

 should be accompanied by hay, or the straw of peas, beans, 

 or wheat, chopped or cut. Swedish turnips are most ap* 

 proved of in most parts of England. Cabbages come in 

 well late in the season, and sheep fatten quickly upon them. 

 Some, however, consider potatoes better and more nutritive 

 than turnips. 



4 II 



