The Shepherds' Guule. 4,7 



labour, present great difficulties to this excellent 

 system. As far north as the state of New- York, 

 we cannot have fields of turnips to be fed off du- 

 ring winter by sheep, as is the case in England. 

 Whatever roots we raise, except parsnips, must 

 be taken up, and housed or buried, to preserve 

 them from severe frost : and this is with us so ex- 

 pensive an operation as greatly to lessen the pro- 

 fit of the system. Siiil, however, besides that 

 such food is actually better for sheep, especially 

 for breeding ewes ; on the score of profit it is 

 well worth the experiment ; and if proper care is 

 taken by manure and good tillage to raise the 

 roots of a large size, the labour of taking up and 

 preserving them will be so much lessened, as to 

 render them a much cheaper food than only hay 

 and grain. Carrots and potatoes are so much 

 more nutritious than turnips, that they pay better 

 for the labour of raising them. The large white 

 beet called mangle Wertsel, root of scarcity, is 

 likewise very nutritious ; and as well as carrots, 

 afford an abundant crop on deep and light loamy, 

 or sandy soils, which only are fit for them. As far 

 as my experience goes, the carrot is to be prefer- 

 red. They answer all the purposes of corn at a 

 much less expense : and by giving a small quanti- 

 ty daily to the sheep, at the commencement of 

 winter, they render the change from green to dry 

 food less sudden and less injurious ; particularly 

 to old and infirm sheep. 



