CARE OF THE EWE AND YOUNG LAMB 155 



and drafts may be made and sent away if it is con- 

 venient to market in that manner, or all may be 

 kept till they average about 80 pounds, which will 

 be early in June. If carefully managed there will 

 be no culls and all will be gone and the cash in the 

 owner's pocket before comes the dread parasites. 



Salt is essential to the sheep and it is well to ac- 

 custom them to the use of it and keep it before them 

 at all times. It is especially useful in spring when 

 grass comes, and no doubt when they have access to 

 it checks many bowel troubles. 



SUMMER SHADE. 



Shade is essential in our climate of the cornbelt. 

 Even in April sheep will begin to seek the shade 

 during the warmer parts of the day and by May and 

 June it is very necessary. Where the pasture is near 

 the barn the cool, dark lower story, where were the 

 winter quarters, is an ideal place for the flock. It 

 should be kept well bedded down and thus there is 

 saved a good deal of fertility that would otherwise 

 perhaps be heaped up in fence corners or beneath 

 trees where it would do the pasture little good. The 

 sheep prefer the darkness of the barn to the semi- 

 shadow of trees and it is very much better and safer 

 for them for reasons that we will presently take up 

 under the subject of parasite infestation. 



In this barn basement one should each day put 

 down a little fresh hay and usually the flock will 

 eat quite a bit of it. In connection with their green 

 forage it is to them what dry bread and butter are to 



