208 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



weight of the fleece. Assuming this to be a correct 

 estimate (and it is believed to be so), it will be found 

 that, for an outlay of- 50 per cent, in extra feed, only 

 five, or, at the most, ten per cent, of wool is obtain- 

 ed in return. It would, however, doubtless increase 

 the carcass and the quantity of manure ; but this 

 would be done at too great a price ; though, if the 

 sheep were intended for the shambles, it would alter 

 the case. 



Having considered the influence or effect of feed 

 upon the quality and quantity of the wool, and 

 shown that either extreme, too little or too much, is 

 unprofitable to the wool-grower, the committee will, 

 in the next place, proceed to that part of their sub- 

 ject relating to the care and management of sheep 

 during winter. 



It may be classed under three heads : Feeding, 

 Watering, and Shelter. 



Food. This should be such as to agree with the 

 habits and economy of the sheep, and should con- 

 tain nourishment and bulk equivalent to two pounds 

 of hay. 



The varieties of winter provender to be consider- 

 ed are hay of all the cultivated grasses, such as clo- 

 ver, lucerne, &c., &c., and hay from natural but dry 

 meadows ; sound oat, barley, rye, and wheat straw, 

 and well-cured vetches and pea-vines ; all kinds of 

 grain (with the exception of the less healthy rye), 

 roots, such as potatoes, carrots, ruta-baga, mangold- 

 wurzel, turnips, and the different kinds of beets ; all 

 of which are suited to the health, thrift, and the in- 

 ternal economy of sheep. 



Of the different kinds of hay, white and red clo- 

 ver, sainfoin and timothy, stand first, and seem to be 

 best adapted to the nature of sheep ; they eat it with 

 great avidity, and with but little abatement in appe- 

 tite, through the whole of a long winter. Of red 

 clover there are two kinds, the Northern and the 

 Southern ; the latter of which makes much the best 



