Acinic ULTURAL MUSEUM 317 



a*eifersnc'e safely to be had,) the quantity given to cur 

 sheep was such as we have before stated would keep thi.ni 

 beaitby, or sncli as they appeared to demand. It is given 

 in the morning when the sheep are looked over, in order 

 to counteract the ill effect of the dew. They have 

 consumed ixt the rate of one ton of salt for every 

 thoisan I sinsp annually, which at the rate of ^Gs. 

 pcT hundred, its present^ price, amounts to twenty-fi3s: 

 pounds sterling: at the same price the consumption of a 

 thousand sheep might occasionally, but varying accord 

 uig to the season, amount to thirty pounds sterling pet 

 annum, and no more. 



A small handful is put on a flat stone, or slate, and ten 

 or fifteen of these slates set a few yards apart, are enough 

 for one hundred sheep : at first the sheep may be moved 

 towards them ; if they feel a craving for salt, they will lick 

 tip quickly as much as is necessary ; if tli-vv do not want 

 It, what remains dry, when the siiecparc next looked at, 

 is taken up and reserved for future use. Twice a week has 

 usually been found sufficient; in particular cases it may 

 be offered thrice. As to any doubt respecting their in- 

 clination to it, none can be maintained ; for, of a flock 

 approaching towards 1000, there are not ten old sheep 

 wiiich have not taken kindly to it, and not a lamb 

 which does not consume it gi'eedily. 



When turnips in the early season are stocked with 

 sheep, and the greens rank aud i«irong, many. die sud- 

 denly, more especially young two-tooth sheep. Tiie 

 disorder is a pent-up wind, oecasi ned hy excess of fer- 

 mentation in the stomaih ; here sal'ed hay and salt, are 

 devoured with a greediness, that denotes t]>eir salutary 

 effect. The autumn of 1801 was rainy and uniavoura- 

 ble, yet we did not lose one sheep in turnips, and pro- 

 bably never shall, whilst we persevere in the use of salfc» 

 In that of 1802, *ve had many hundred fat wethers, gales, 

 and hog sheep in turnips, and lost about two during the 

 first month the turnips were stocked ; certainly the chan- 

 ces were, that in any keep, and in any season, of such a 

 9ock more might have died. 28 



I pri«» in IS09, 40 5, per QWt, 



