224 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



daily, I do not recollect any accurate experiments. To 

 feed liberally one hundred sheep with this precious article 

 throughout the Avinter season, ten tons at least would be re- 

 quired ; although I have lately been informed by a great 

 sheep-master, that he allows but that quantity to a flock of 

 one thousand ; his turnips being exellent, with plenty of 

 grazing ground. 



' As to corn, [grain] a large sheep will eat several pints or 

 pounds per day ; and the comparison of quantity of food be- 

 tween the sheep and the ox may be generally stated at one- 

 eighth or one-ninth part for the sheep.' 



' One thing (says M. Tessier) cannot be too much recom- 

 mended, which is to place the hay in the racks while the 

 sheep are out of the house ; by this precaution, the dust will 

 not fall upon the fleeces.' Dr. Deane observed that the rack 

 in which the hay is put should be upright, so that in feeding 

 the seeds, chaff', &c. should not fall into the wool about their 

 necks. Under the rack should be a trough for catching the 

 seeds of the hay and feeding the sheep. 



With regard to giving salt to sheep, writers have disa- 

 greed. It is believed to be better not to give them any than 

 to allow them too great a quantity. M. Tessier says, 

 ' Sheep have been known to be attacked by long and trouble- 

 some looseness in consequence of having taken too much 

 salt ; which has induced the belief that sea-water is poison- 

 ous to them ; and that his sheep have always been healthy, 

 though he had never given them any salt. But he states 

 that it may be indispensably necessary in wet countries. 

 And Dr. Cooper, editor of the last edition of the Domestic 

 Encyclopedia, recommends one-fourth of an ounce a day as 

 a proper quantity for sheep. xMr. Grove likewise says, ' salt 

 is required by sheep at intervals during the whole year, but 

 it is often given in too great quantity, and almost forced upon 

 the sheep ; which is often injurious, and often injures the 

 digestion so that the best grain will pass through them un- 

 altered.' 



The same writer says, ' In the season for dropping lambs, 

 the utmost care is necessary. The birth is most commonly 

 easy, but often slow. Ignorant shepherds are very apt on 

 such occasions to be aiding in the birth, which is always use- 

 less and often very injurious. 



' It often happens,' says Mr. Grove, ' that ewes will not 

 own their lambs, particularly the first they bear ; and in this 

 case I would advise to the sprinkling a little salt on the lamb, 



