246 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



When sheep have been long from the ground, they 

 will often do as well to let them out in spring as soon as 

 the ground is bare, feeding them also with the best of 

 hay, and with roots and provender. 



Clover hay is the best for sheep ; we have known 

 flocks to do well and raise fine early lambs, when theii 

 feed during winter has been nothing but excellent clo- 

 ver hay, and pure water, to which they had access in 

 the yard. 



TREATMENT OF SHEEP AFTER SHEARING. 



A correspondent of the Albany Cultivator says: — 

 " There is nothing that conduces to the health and com- 

 fort of sheep more than a clean skin ; any application 

 that has that tendency will be of service ; anythmg to 

 the contrary must injure them, and the growth and qual- 

 ity of their wool, in a greater or less degxee. Smearing 

 of any kind is injurious, particularly so after shearing, 

 when the wool is short ; it stops the pores, checks the 

 growth of the wool, and leaves it dry and brittle, far into 

 the season. If, when sheep are sheared, there is a large 

 hogshead of very strong brine made, and as the sheep 

 are shorn they are taken to it, and while one man holds 

 the sheep, another takes a strong scrubbing brush, and 

 after pouring some of the brine along the back and 

 shoulders, he scrubs the sheep well all over, until he 

 raises a lather as with soap ; nothing more is necessary. 

 The skin will be left bright, red, and clean. Every tick 

 and sheep louse instantly disappears, and if the skin had 

 any tendency to itch, it is entirely cured ; perspiration is 

 promoted and the growth of the wool improved. In this 

 way, I think that the general strength of the sheep, to 

 withstand the effects of any storm, will be better pro- 

 moted than by smearing of any kind, which is never 

 admissible. 



