216 MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 



Very many of the ewes, from their exposure, and in spite 

 of full feeding, were sadly impoverished at the time of yean- 

 ing, and consequently were unable in many instances to fold 

 without assistance. In all such cases, the character of the 

 offspring may easily be conceived ; for, if they lived, they were 

 puny and ill constitulioned, from the deficiency of nutriment 

 afforded by the mothers. It is needless to add, that when 

 winter came it made terrible havoc with these. 



But an entire change came over the ewes after they had 

 experienced the benefits of protection. Rarely mechanical 

 aid is now needed at parturition, the lambs are alike healthy 

 with their dams, and receive a " good start" from the greater 

 amount of nutriment afforded them ; and thus the foundation 

 of all good animals, in all cases, is laid. 



Another source of profit originating from protection, is the 

 saving of provender. 



Facts, the result of thorough experiments, which will 

 hereafter be adduced, satisfactorily confirm this position, al- 

 though the writer regrets that he has none to offer deduced 

 from his own experience. But nevertheless, he is as well 

 persuaded of its truth, as though he had made hundreds of 

 experiments, for it is founded in the very nature of things, 

 and made conclusive by only ordinary observation. Every 

 practical farmer is well aware, that every description of 

 stock will consume more food in severe, or moderately cold 

 weather, than when it is otherwise. Now nature is always 

 exerting herself with everything, from man to the reptile, to 

 promote its physical welfare for the preservation of the prin- 

 ciple of life. Hence when any animal is exposed, or sub- 

 jected to extreme hardship, and our climate is the greatest 

 natural one, it is prompted to partake of greater quantities of 

 food in order to combat, or counteract it ; therefore, inasmuch 

 as sheep, from the severities of our winters, are subjected to 

 more hardship, without protection than with it, the inference 

 is legitimate that they will consume a larger amount of food 

 with a view to their welfare. But further reasoning here 

 will not be necessary, as this position will be again advert- 

 ed to. 



Again, shelter for sheep is a means of making additional 

 manure, which is the mine to which the farmer must look as 

 the main source of his wealth. Indeed, this is his capital 

 stock, and whether it is to be increased or diminished, de- 

 pends wholly on his l)ad or good management. If the ma- 



