On Sheep 



farmers, though the benefits that would result to them 

 from keepmg sheep where these weeds prevail, is too 

 obvious to admit of illustration ; whence it may be 

 safely inferred, that the small quantity of sheep kept 

 in Pennsylvania, is a misfortune and mistake in the ru- 

 ral (Economy of the State, that cannot be too much re- 

 gretted, nor too speedily removed. 



But there are many objections almost uniformly ad- 

 vanced against keeping sheep, by those who are un- 

 friendly to the practice; one of which is the injury they 

 do to pasture, and particularly, to young clover, by 

 biting it too close to the ground, and by leaving it ex- 

 posed to the too poAverful influence of the sun and frost. 

 Another is, the quantity of grass they consume, which 

 it is contended is comparatively much greater than is 

 eaten by other animals; and a third, is the danger they 

 are exposed to, from the nocturnal depredations of 

 dogs. 



I admit there is much plausibility in the first objec- 

 tion, but experience has taught me to doubt its soli- 

 dity. I have not thought it prudent to suffer any kind 

 of cattle to go into clover early in the spring, when the 

 roots are loosened by the recently departed frost; but 

 at every other season my experience forbids me to 

 think sheep injurious to pasture. 



For the last six years, I have been in the practice of 

 feeding large flocks of sheep, and have generally eaten 

 the young clover in my stubbles very bare with them ; 

 but never found the succeeding crops perceptibly injur- 

 ed thereby, though they were frequently kept in the 

 fields till the verge of winter. 



