20 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



equal value which enable the flock-master to provide abundaat 

 supplies of hay to carry his stock over those short periods when 

 pasturing is prevented by snow storms. The variety of native 

 grasses suitable for sheep pastures is thus seen to be ample, and no 

 country in the world is better provided, while few countries are so 

 well supplied with them, as are the United States and territories 

 over the whole length and breadth of their vast surface. 



The stocking of the pasture must be closely looked to. Over- 

 stocking causes scarcity of pasture, and a deficient supply of nu- 

 triment. It also causes the sheep to take up much sand and earth 

 into their stomachs with their food, which gives them an unthrifty 

 appearance, and sometimes induces disease and death. Sheep 

 pastured on overstocked fields may be recognized by the worn 

 condition of their teeth, and cases have occurred in which this test 

 has indicated a difference of two years in their age. Four-year- 

 old sheep have exhibited the worn mouths of six-year-olds. Un- 

 derstocking is an error on the other side. Unless the pasture is 

 closely cropped, the herbage becomes hard, unpalatable, and indi- 

 gestible, and the sheep do not thrive upon it. It is a well proved 

 adage that " 24 hours' grass is best for a sheep, and 8 days' grass for 

 an ox." This indicates that the close bite of a sheep should be 

 accommodated by a very close herbage. Tne tender growth of a 

 thick, short pasture is precisely what is wanted, and if the flock is 

 not numerous enough to keep it short, the field should be divided 

 into plots, and those not cropped closely should be pastured down 

 by cattle or left to be mowed. For the better stocking of the pas- 

 tures it would be well, if practicable, to divide the flock, sorting 

 lambs and yearlings from wethers and aged ewes, and putting the 

 former upon the best and tenderest pasture. This is a point of 

 great importance in the management of a flock, and should be 

 don2 whenever the welfare of the younger or less vigorous sheep 

 requires it. Where the range is extensive, and ample pasture is 

 provided, any supplementary provision further than an occasional 

 feed of corn, oats, bran, or oil-meal, is unnecessary. These addi- 

 tional foods should be supplied whenever the condition of the pas- 

 ture requires it, and constant watchfulness should be exercised to 

 discover the moment when the pastures fail. It is not that the 

 growth of the sheep is arrested then, but the quality of the wool 

 suffers from the moment that the condition of the sheep begins to 

 deteriorate. The secretion which supplies the matter of which 

 the wool is formed, is then lessened, and the fiber is weakened at 

 that particular spot. If the adverse condition continues for some 

 days or weeks, tlje weakened fiber fprms what is called a " 



