602 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIETIY. 



FATTENING. 



Various methods have been adopted to force the feeding 

 of sheep ; among these may be particularly mentioned oil- 

 cake, in addition to the ordinary food, half a cake being 

 given daily. But hay, br^n, chaff, and corn have all a ten- 

 dency to fatten, and of the latter two or three pounds may 

 be given daily, with advantage. The cake, corn, and chaff 

 should be given in troughs, and the hay in racks, which 

 may be placed over the troughs as a roof to keep the cake 

 from being soaked with rain. Boiled potatoes are also a 

 food which sheep are fond of, and well adapted for feeding 

 them. From eighteen to twenty pounds of turnips are 

 required daily for each sheep. Barleymeal has also been 

 successfully used in feeding, as well as pease and beans 

 and meal made from them. These last two are the most 

 nutritious of all food : and it will be found advan- 

 tageous to have a piece of rich land for the final stages of 

 feeding. 



On the subject of fattening there has been considerable 

 diversity of opinion, but much depends upon the particular 

 locality ; for what may answer well in one place, may not 

 prove effectual in another. 



CHAPTER VII. 



DIFFERENT BREEDS OF SHEEP. 



The introduction of the Merino sheep has done much to 

 improve the different breeds of British sheep. And in 



