I9O MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



orchards under proper conditions of management is not to 

 be questioned. No cheaper method of fertilizing the orchard 

 can be -devised. The following are among the benefits from 

 such grazing and feeding : ( 1 ) The sheep consume the grass, 

 weeds and young sprouts around the trees. (2) They con- 

 sume all the fallen fruit and will thus destroy all insect 

 life which it may contain. The injury from the presence 

 of the codling moth in apple orchards may thus be greatly 

 reduced. (3) They distribute fertilizer in a form that is 

 readily available and proportionate to the food given to 

 them. (4) They break up the top soil more or less ac- 

 cording to the conditions present, and thus aid in the 

 retention of soil moisture. Except in the case of old trees, 

 however, which carry rough bark, it is absolutely neces- 

 sary to protect the trunks of the trees by putting around 

 them loose wire netting. The sheep will also trim back 

 the tips of the fruit-laden limbs that may come within 

 their reach, and also consume the fruit which they carry 

 if grazed long enough in the orchard. 



Whether the sheep are simply carried through the 

 season or are prepared for the block where fertilization is 

 sought, they must be given supplemental food. To meet 

 the former condition, wheat bran and oilcake should be 

 freely fed, since both are rich in valuable fertilizing ele- 

 ments ; and to suit the latter condition the aim should 

 be to feed freely corn and oilcake, the former being given 

 to promote quick fattening. The grain troughs should 

 be distributed in various parts of the orchard or fre- 

 quently moved to promote the even distribution of the 

 manure. Water must be supplied, and salt at all times. 



The number of the sheep thus grazed on an acre may 

 be regulated by the amount and character of the food 

 given. Some regard, however, must be had to the pasture 

 which the orchard furnishes when soiling food is not fur- 

 nished. The fallen fruit is not of much value as a fat- 

 tener because of its immaturity and acidity, and when 

 sheep are first introduced into orchards it may be neces- 



