SECRETABY'S REPORT. 129 



the best way is to have a crook, or hook of about an inch and 

 a half bend, on a hoe handle, catch this around one hind leg at 

 the gambrel joint, and draw the leg from the ground, when 

 the sheep on three legs become quite helpless, then seize the 

 leg with the hand, and pass the other arm around the. neck, in 

 this way the animal can be easily, and securely handled ; 

 especially should this be the case in attempting to handle 

 ewes heavy with lamb. 



A few words on fatting sheep may not be out of place. 

 Immense numbers of sheep are yearly brought from the north 

 durins: the months of October and November into this State to 

 be fattened ; with no means of estimating any but the little 

 county of Franklin, there are not less than 15,000 sheep fed 

 there in tlie winter, all to go to market as soon as may be. 

 While some practice feeding fat sheep four times a day, the 

 general opinion seems to be that three times will do; grain is 

 usually fed whole to sheep to save grinding, though the economy 

 of it is questionable. Some feed a mixture of corn and oats 

 ground together, linseed meal when they can get it pure, and 

 cotton-seed meal which is always so. 



Roots are very valuable to feed sheep, and beans. Some feed 

 their sheep with grain, the first thing in the morning ; but the 

 better opinion is that midday is the proper time to feed roots 

 and corn, good hay morning and night. In judging of the 

 fatness of a sheep, beside handling the loin and brisket, a nice 

 point is on the ribs between the breast bone and fore leg. Some 

 depend on a full neck vein, but about as true a test as to the 

 ripeness of a sheep, is the thickness of fur on the tail. 



DISEASES OF SHEEP. 



We are fortunately in this Commonwealth exempt from most 

 of the worst diseases incident to sheep in England, and other 

 portions of this country. While we do not propose to write a 

 medical treatise, yet it seems proper that we should notice some 

 of the more common ailments mentioned in the returns made 

 to us. In speaking of the diseases of sheep, however, it is 

 eminently the case that prevention is better than cure. Almost 

 all the diseases to which our sheep are subject, may be pre- 

 vented by proper housing from cold, storms and wet, by plenty 

 of good feed, and by a judicious allowance of salt at all times. 



