[78] 



pings, which, plowed under at once, gives a surprising fer- 

 tility to the soil. 



With the exception, perhaps, of goats, sheep will eat a 

 greater variety of herbage than anj other animal. Not 

 only the grasses, but many weeds noxious to the farm, 

 tender twig^ and mosses are eagerly devoured by them. 

 Lambsquarter, iron- weed, wild mustard, tongue- grass, and 

 many other weeds contribute materially to their health. Of 

 grasses that supply the necessary nutriment for sheep, as 

 tested by the lights of experience, are those of low, creep- 

 ing habits, with fine, short stalks, such as Blue- grass (Poa 

 pratensis), Timothy (Phleum pratense), Sheep's- fescue (Fes- 

 tuea ovina), Spear- grass (Poa annua), False Redtop (Poa 

 serotina), E-edtop or Herd's- grass (Agrostis vulgaris), Or- 

 chard-grass (Dactylis glomerata), Meadow Foxtail (Alopecu- 

 rus pratensis), White Clover (Trifolium repens), Red Clover 

 (Trifolium pratense), Narrow-leaved Plantain (Plantago 

 lanceolata) , and many others. Few of our meadows that 

 are artificially made are without one or more of these 

 grasses, while in the woods the Nimble- will (Muhlenbergia 

 diffusa), Crab or Crop-grass (Panicum sanguinale), and 

 numerous others afford succulent, healthy food. Besides 

 these, there are aromatic herbs or weeds, that possess, it is- 

 true, but little nutritive value, but from their stimulating 

 properties they induce a good appetite, and, besides, a fre- 

 quent change of diet is of the greatest utility in keeping up 

 the health of the animal. Some experienced sheep-raisers 

 sow mustard on open places in the pastures, which is a most 

 toothsome morsel for sheep, and if allowed once to go to 

 seed will perpetuate itself on the ground. Parsley, worm- 

 wood and yarrow or sneezewort are also greedily eaten by 

 sheep, and are very advantageous to them. Parsley acts 

 upon the liver and kidneys very freely, and should be given 

 them when affected with the " rot." It is a biennial plant, 

 and will, when once sown, perpetuate itself by sowing its 

 own seed. We have no means of knowing the nutrient 



