1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 57 



stop them ; but if those same sheep are moved to a pasture 

 where they are not acquainted they will very often lie quiet. 



A brush, rail, board, or wire fence, three or three and 

 one-half feet in height, if made close enough, will usually 

 stop sheep ; but it will generally be necessary to top-pole a 

 stone wall, even if it is four feet high. If sheep are not kept 

 on both sides of the wall, the poles should not be placed 

 over the centre, but towards the side on which the sheep are 

 kept, this will make it much more difficult for them to climb 

 over. 



If fences are properly attended to, and in season, there 

 will be very little trouble with unruly sheep. 



Considerable has been said and written about the extermi- 

 nation of brush and briars in pastures by stocking them with 

 sheep, some of which the writer of this cannot indorse. If 

 any one thinks he can kill out foul stuff by stocking heavily 

 with sheep, and at the same time keep his sheep in decent 

 condition, without feeding them grain, he will get left; but 

 this can l)e done successfully and profitably, when the past- 

 ure is not too far away, by feeding grain daily, thereby 

 enriching your pasture, and at the same time ridding it of 

 -brush and briars. 



Now in regard to the matter of sheep and dogs. Many are 

 deterred from keeping sheep through fear of the ravages of 

 dogs. I think this should not be so to any great extent. 

 To be sure, the dog law is not what it should be. We need 

 a law giving any one the right to shoot every dog found 

 roaming at large without a keeper ; but, since we cannot 

 get such a law, let us make the best of what law we have, 

 which provides a way whereby we can get fair compensa- 

 tion for all sheep killed, maimed, or tvorried. 



If the selectmen or appraisers do not award sufficient 

 damages, appeal to the county commissioners ; and, nine 

 times out ten, they will do the fair thing by you. It is a 

 very rare thing for a selectman to appear before the board 

 of commissioners and oppose the claims of a person who has 

 appealed from his award. 



Now, we come to the very important matter of winter care 

 and management. This, it will be necessary to vary some- 

 what, according as the ewes are expected to lamb early or 



