WINTER MANAGEMENT. 241 



in production. A writer who is familiar with the subject 

 speaks thus : " The great distinction in German agricuhure, 

 compared with our own, is economy. The question is not, 

 whether a great crop can be produced, or a fine story can 

 be told, what large animals can be raised, &c. — but what is 

 the whole cost, the expenditure of labor, of land, of manure, 

 &c. For this reason computations have been made, and 

 the proportion of all the parts and processes has been fixed. 

 Economy compels them to weigh and measure their fodder. 

 The minutest details have been entered into, the most diffi- 

 cult points examined, and the results brought out." 



The variations of fodder, daily, with the quantities of each 

 duly weighed and proportioned to the size of the animals to 

 be fed, as observed in the different tables, is not a solitary 

 experiment to determine a point only ; but having become 

 confirmed by thousands of experiments, is the basis of uni- 

 versal practice among her numerous wool-growers. The 

 late Mr. Henry D. Grove, in seasons of scarcity, was accus- 

 tomed to weigh daily the rations of his flock ; and thus per- 

 mitted nothing to waste, which exhibited the economical 

 practice of his native country. These remarks are deemed 

 essential, in order that the tables may be appreciated by 

 those whose information is limited relative to the perfection 

 to which sheep husbandry has attained in Germany. 



The first thing which will strike the reader is the daily 



VARIATIONS OF FODDER, 



in which we see manifested the principle of economy prac- 

 tically carried out. The grain fields, and not almost wholly 

 meadows, as in this country, are made greatly the means of 

 maintenance of their flocks during winter ; thus not a pound 

 of straw nor a pound of anything valuable is permitted to be 

 wasted. Hence the cultivation of sheep and crops in a meas- 

 ure are mutually dependent on each other. The manure of 

 the flock augments the quantity of grain, and thus a larger 

 quantity of straw is provided for it in return. We also ob- 

 serve displayed, their knowledge of that habit of the sheep 

 as seen manifested in its eagerness for varieties of food, and 

 of its love of frequent change. In this habit of the ani- 

 mal we behold that wise economy of nature in endowing it 

 v.-ith instincts to promote its welfare to the greatest extent in 

 every point of view. Oae kind of food may develop flesh, 

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