[101] 



through in fine order; the lambs will be good, and will 

 grow off in a corresponding manner. 



It has already been stated that one acre of average turnips 

 will yield about 800 to 1,000 bushels. The yield of beets 

 and rutabagas will make but little less if any. One can 

 therefore soon make an estimate as to the number of acres 

 of roots necessary to winter a flock of sheep of any given 

 number. One acre of roots will make say 800 bushels. 

 This amount will feed 100 sheep 80 days, together with a 

 small modicum of hay, say one pound per day, and a gill of 

 meal to each sheep. Now, estimating the number of feeding 

 months to be five, beginning with the 1st of November and 

 ending 1st of April, it will require to carry, in prime order 

 through that period, 100 sheep, 1,500 bushels of roots or the 

 product of two acres, or at the most, three acres of good 

 land. In addition to this it will require about four tons of 

 hay and about forty-five bushels of meal. Of course this 

 is a most liberal allowance, and the calculation is based upon 

 the idea that they have nothing else whatever to eat. 

 Owing to our rnild climate and generous pastures, there is 

 not one winter in twenty that our sheep will require such 

 abundance of food. It is perfectly safe to say that one-half 

 the amount of roots and meal mentioned above will be, in 

 addition to the grass they will have through almost the en- 

 tire winter, ample food to keep them in thrifty condition, 

 and if the above rations were fed to them in addition to the 

 pasturage, they would, in a few weeks, be almost too fat even 

 for a butcher. None but those intended for the shambles 

 should be fed so extravagantly. Breeding ewes should be 

 fed liberally, especially after lambing, but to gorge them on 

 rich food before lambing has a tendency to make them 

 abort, and by taking on a superabundance of fat, cause them 

 to become barren. It will be found best to change their 

 food often, and at no time give them more rich food, such as 

 turnips, beets, oil- cake, etc., than they will eagerly eat up. 



There must be a constant supply of salt also and good 



