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Some farmers are accustomed to turn their sheep into pas- 

 tures without water, under pretence that they get enough 

 from the dew. There is cruelty in doing this, as sheep require 

 water as much as other animals, and suffer severely from the 

 privation. The habits of sheep, likewise, are particularly clean- 

 ly ; and pains should be taken, whether in the yard or pasture, 

 that they should have free access to clean water. An extensive 

 sheep-holder in a neighboring county has kept his sheep with- 

 out salt. There can be no doubt that this is an error, and that 

 salt is an essential condiment to their health. It is advisable to 

 place it in their pastures in small troughs with a roof over them, 

 that the salt may not be wasted by rains, and that the sheep 

 may be prevented from getting into or over the trough which 

 contains it. This is easily effected by a simple contrivance, 

 which will suggest itself. The common practice of throwing 

 the salt upon the ground is wasteful, and on other accounts ob- 

 jectionable. 



4. Manger for Sheep. — Among the various racks and man- 

 gers which I have seen for feeding sheep, there is a simple form 

 which seems preferable to any other : it is as cheaply construct- 

 ed as any other, and it prevents all waste. In the common form 

 of racks, where they are inclined outward from the bottom up- 

 ward, nearly as much hay is drawn out and trodden under foot 

 as is consumed by the sheep. 



The manger which is preferable to any other is of such 

 length as to be easily moved by two persons, and is made with 

 four or more upright posts, and with two boards or slats extend- 

 ing the whole distance round its sides and ends. The bottom 

 board on the side may be ten or twelve inches in width ; and 

 above that, leaving a space of about a foot or fourteen inches, 

 there may be another board of about six or eight inches in 

 width. The width of the manger or box should be about two 

 feet. It should have a tight bottom, with two pieces of board 

 rising to a point in the centre, say about four or six inches, so 

 as to form a trough on each side, into which when grain or cut 

 vegetables are put, they may be easily reached by the sheep on 



