AGRICULTURAL MUSUEM 19 



ilirough, let there be a pannel open to the Iieight of three 

 feet — this will receive the sheep, and exclude other stock? 

 except hog-;, which should not be suffered to run in th^ 

 sheep pasture — in and out of this pen let them pass at plea* 

 sure at all times. After every fail of rain or snow, the in- 

 terior of the pen should be strewed pretty thickly with 

 clean dry litter, and the space.under the sheds be scraped 

 clean, and littered afresh every two weeks ; the manure so 

 made will be an object. It will be very useful to have 

 within the enclosure, a copse of cedars, or pines, to which 

 the sheep can have access during the winter to browse 

 on; the resinous substance contained in the leaves of these 

 trees, are both grateful and salubrious to them — in default 

 of such a copse, if there be any of the trees within conve- 

 nient distance, the bough? should be brought and thrown 

 into the tlock twice a week during wmten 



There must be water in the pasture, for although sheep 

 do not require drinkin summer when at grass, atthisseason^ 

 and when on dry food, it is absolutely requisite to them. 



There is a prevalent opinion, with which 1 do not hold^ 

 that sheep do best at all times without confinement or 

 shelter; this is true as to confinement, except occasionally 

 at yeaning time, but not as to shelter; they want no d'^- 

 fence froui mere cold ; nature has sufHciently covered them 

 against that, not so as to wet and cold combined. The hav- 

 ing their fleeces drenched with cold rains, the being for 

 months on the wet and frozen ground, impairs their con- 

 dition, brings on coughs, and engenders disease. 



It is certainly true, however, that the standing and lying 

 on their own filth, will sooner or later infect the flock , 

 but in winter, and with the precautions I have advised, as 

 to cleaning out the sheds frequently and littering the pen, 

 there is little danger. From the middle ofApriltothe 

 middle of December, there is no need for pen or shelter j 

 unless an enclosure to guard against dogs at night, in which 

 case it should be so constructed as to be moved frequent. 

 ly, made six or seven feet high, and the rails or paling 

 placed upright, and on the outer side ; indeed at very lit- 

 tle expeace a moveable shelter and pen for the winter e^^ 



