WINTER MANAGEMENT. 235 



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3d. Half a pint of barley per sheep per day. 



4tli. A little hay, and a constant supply of salt. 



For the first three weeks both lots consumed equal por- 

 tions of food ; but in the fourth week there was a falling off 

 in the consumption of the wethers in the shed of 52 lbs. of 

 turnips per day ; and in the ninth week there was also a 

 falling off of 28 lbs. more ; of linseed cake there was also a 

 falling off of 3 lbs. per day. The wethers in the field con- 

 sumed the same quantity of food from first to last. The re- 

 sult of the experiment was as follows : 



Total increase, 790 lbs. 512 lbs. 



" ' Consequently the sheep in the shed, though they con- 

 sumed nearly one fifth less food, made above one third 

 greater progress. The circumstances of the experiment 

 were, if anything, unfavorable to the sheep in the shed. 

 The turnips, by being stored in a house for their use, be- 

 came drier than those consumed by the sheep in the field ; 

 and also in February the shed wethers were salved or rub- 

 bed with mercurial ointment, which is generally supposed to 

 give a check to feeding sheep. The floor of the shed was 

 kept clean by fresh straw litter after every rain.' " 



Mr. Spooner adds the following : — " The result of these 

 important and valuable experiments is precisely what we 

 should expect from theoretical reasoning on the principles of 

 the subject. It shows the pecuniary advantage of attending 

 to the comforts of sheep and other animals, the expediency of 

 providing proper sheds, and affording shelter when the weather 

 is severe, and lessening, as much as possible, their exercise." 



Quietness, as has been observed, is indispensable to rapid 

 fattening of sheep, or cattle, and to contribute as much as 

 possible to this object, regularity is requisite not only in the 

 quantity of the food, but the time which it is given. It is 

 not a little surprising how quick animals, especially when 

 fattening, will learn the stated hours when their food is to be 

 supplied ; and if it is transgressed, they become restless, 

 which greatly retards the process. The observance of this, 

 with full measure of feed, are of paramount importance. 



