THE DISEASES OF SHEEP 345 



deer. Aside from them there are no other carriers 

 of these germs so far as we know. Unfortunately 

 we must purchase rams or else practice inbreeding. 

 The writer is inclined to think that with strong, 

 well-bred, vigorous stock once secured it is wiser 

 to inbreed for a time rather than to risk purchasing 

 a new starter of germs with an uncertain ram. 

 However, the ram himself may be put in quarantine 

 on his arrival, permitted to associate with the flock 

 only when he can be of use to it and at all other 

 times have his own quarters, a grassy paddock with 

 shed attached. 



Thus, without giving a dose of medicine or apply- 

 ing to the soil any lime, salt, corrosive sublimate or 

 iron sulphate, the farm secures clean pastures, 

 stocked with clean sheep. 



Following the thought of destroying the parasites 

 in the soil, as is frequently advised, by applications 

 of lime, salt or chemicals, the writer would call to 

 the attention of the reader the folly of the proposal. 

 There is in an acre 43,560 square feet. Supposing 

 that we desired to purify that soil to a depth of one 

 foot, not an unreasonable depth, there is then to 

 purify 43,560 cubic feet of soil. It would take at 

 least a pound of salt to destroy germ life in a cubic 

 foot of soil; it is doubtful if that would suffice, so 

 that about 21 tons of salt to the acre would be re- 

 quired. Of lime probably two or three times as 

 much would be needed, and when it comes to apply- 

 ing chemicals one had better halt, for he will have 

 destroyed his land before he will have killed the 



