PROTECTING SHEEP FROM DOGS AND WOLVES 375 



from wind such as is provided by a bluff or grove; (2) 

 ground with sufficient slope to keep the corral dry; and 

 (3) proximity to water for the sheep and also the shep- 

 herd, who usually lodges in a little shack near to the 

 corral. On the arable farm sheep accustomed to the .cor- 

 ral will come to the same at nightfall as the outcome of 

 habit. The way is left open for them to do so. On the 

 range they are, of course, accompanied by the shepherd. 



Should disease be present in the flock, the spread of 

 the same is facilitated by corraling at night. Crowding 

 the sheep into close quarters, of course, brings them into 

 closer contact with certain forms of disease which are 

 communicable in the germ form and in other forms. 

 Sheep in small flocks and possessed of large liberty 

 always thrive better than those kept under conditions 

 the opposite. 



The most objectionable feature to the corral is that 

 it deprives sheep of the opportunity to graze during those 

 times which are most favorable for such grazing, espe- 

 cially in warm weather. When sheep can lie out on the 

 pastures they will invariably graze in the cool of the even- 

 ing, and in some instances on into the night. In the early 

 morning they again start out to gather feed while the 

 grasses are wet with dew. Such grazing in the cool of 

 the day allows the sheep to take more rest in the heat 

 of the day than would otherwise be possible, which adds 

 much to their thrift. 



When they are driven nightly to the corral in large 

 bands, they feed more or less on the way in and out, 

 especially when going out in the morning. Because of 

 this the grazing becomes bare within a considerable dis- 

 tance of the corral. When this happens in proximity to 

 the quarters in which the sheep are wintered it is so far 

 unfortunate as it tends so far to deprive the sheep of 

 grazing during the open weather of winter. To avoid 

 such a result the aim should be, on the range, to have the 

 summer corral distant from winter quarters. 



