28 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 163 



selling of the native hay in instances where the farmer has a flock of sheep 

 to winter, and in place thereof advises the purchase of alfalfa or clover hay, 

 even though the purchase be made at a higher cost per ton. As a much more 

 economical gain will be made in the end. Roots were strongly recommended 

 as they give a laxative tone to the ration. 



In comparing Turnips vs. a Dry Ration for lambs, it was found that in 

 every instance the lambs on the turnip ration made decidedly better gains 

 than those on a dry ration. The experiment proved that roots reduce the 

 cost of mutton production, and aid wonderfully in keeping the sheep in a 

 healthy condition. 



Tobacco Feeding for the Eradication of the Stomach Worm in Sheep 

 (Haemonchus Contortus) . 



Although no publication was issued on this experiment during the year 

 and one half in which it was conducted, the following report of progress to 

 the Director of the Experiment Station was issued by the Animal Husband- 

 man: 



"Tobacco was first fed to a few sheep to discover in what condition they 

 preferred it. It was given in the form of dust, the stems and midribs cut, 

 and uncut, the former fed dry mixed with salt, and the latter soaked in salty 

 water. At times they would eat greedily of it and would scarcely touch salt 

 without the tobacco. A few slight cases of scouring occurred which may 

 have been due to the tobacco, but they were not severe, were readily checked 

 and did not cause serious setback to the affected sheep. 



"Three lots of sheep were selected for the experiment, ten in each lot. One 

 lot was composed of sheep that were assuredly recognized to be infected with 

 worms; the other two lots, of apparently healthy lambs placed, however, 

 upon infected pasture. Tobacco has been kept constantly for sixteen months 

 before the infected sheep and one lot of healthy lambs. The other lot of healthy 

 lambs received no tobacco. Four of the infected sheep during that time have 

 died, two others are sickly, but the other four have become strong, vigorous 

 and fat. As sickly as the others at the beginning, they have apparently re- 

 covered. The four that died were strongly infested with the stomach worm. 

 The lot of healthy lambs receiving tobacco, are, at the present writing, all 

 alive, although three show signs of sickliness. The others are in a thriving 

 condition and fat. Two of the lambs in the other lot getting no tobacco are 

 dead due to stomach worm and three others are visibly sick. The feed and 

 management was as nearly as possible similar in both instances. Therefore, 

 up to date, tobacco feeding seems to have been productive of some good effects 

 in restraining the ravages of the stomach worm. However, no conclusive 

 results can yet be drawn and several more years of experimentation with 

 many sheep will still be necessary." 



Since the foregoing report of progress was issued by Professor Arkell, this 

 special investigation has continually been underway. The department feels 

 that the solution of such a problem as that of stomach worms in sheep is one 

 of utmost importance and, since reliable vermifuges for sheep are not common, 

 it seems advisable to continue the tobacco feeding experiment in further 



