52 



The Shepherds'* Guide. 



It has been already mentioned that son[\e water 



should be given to sheep daily : it is even more 

 nectssan^ in winter, when they are on dry food, 

 than it is in summer : and when it is not within their 

 reach, they should be turned out to go to it every 

 day ; but where it can easily be had, a pump in the 

 barn-yard, or a trough to be filled from a spring, 

 is certainly most convenient. A little meal, mixed 

 with the water, makes it more nutritious ; and 

 where c^il cake is given, a good method is to soak 

 them in water, stirring them well, whenever the 

 water is given ; and at the last, giving the soaked 

 cakes that remain at the bottom of the vessel, 

 mixed with cut straw : so small a quantity as 7 lbs. 

 to a hundred sheep per day, is said to be found 

 ver)^ beneficial. 



It is remarkable, that whilst s^lt has been con- 

 sidered necessary for sheep and cattle in almost 

 eyery part of the world, it is of late only that the 

 English have fallen into the practice of giving it. 

 In Sweden, Denmark, Saxony, France and Spain, 

 it is allowed to sheep, and not only considered 

 essential to their health, but conducive also to the 

 fineness of their wool. Our farmers are in the 

 constant habit of allowing it to their sheep, but 

 without any other motive than that it is thought 

 in general conducive to their health ; nor with any 

 great regularity as to the periods or the quantity 

 given. In most countries, it is thought peculiarly 

 useful in damp weather, and in Spain, for this rea- 



