WINTER, MANAGEMENT. 251 



his attentions, at no period of the year, to his stock's rams. 

 For some other observations on this subject, the reader is 

 referred to the chapter on Breeding and Crossing. 



HOSPITAL FLOCK. 



This is the general appellation of such sheep as are in 

 low condition, proceeding either from poor keep, or temporary- 

 illness. 



The attentive and well-ordered sheep husbandman will 

 not be troubled with many of this class, for he will not over- 

 stock, neither will he permit any to remain on his hands till 

 they have become too old ; thus few will enter the " poor 

 house" to reflect unskilful management. It is scarcely ne- 

 cessary to say, however, that every good flock-master will 

 provide a place for the reception of sheep under consider- 

 ation, as often, in spite of his humane care, disease will make 

 its way to some individuals, which, in that event, require 

 removal from their strong and healthy comrades, and treated 

 accordingly. After the disease is subdued, their diet should 

 depend much on the character of the malady. As a general 

 rule, their food at first should not be of an exciting nature, 

 especially if the disease was seated in the stomach, or intes- 

 tines. But all suitable advice in this regard will be found 

 in the history of diseases. When a sheep is seen declining 

 in flesh, let it be removed forthwith to the hospital, and after 

 a few weeks perhaps it may resume its place in the flock 

 from whence it was taken ; this is often so, if the removal 

 is instant in the early stages of decline. Variations of the 

 food will greatly contribute to restore invalids, as well as 

 those in poverty of flesh. 



MODES OF FODDERING RACKS. 



The custom so general among sheep-farmers of strewing 

 fodder on the ground, is attended with a vast waste in the 

 aggregate, and a corresponding ill-doing of the flock. No 

 animal is more nice in its habits, or more keen in its sense 

 of smell, than the sheep ; consequently, if their fodder is 

 thrown upon the ground, in moist weather, two or three 

 passing over it, will cause the whole flock to reject the great- 

 er proportion, and thus from day to day their appetites are 

 unsatiated. The waste from this slovenly practice during 

 one season only, will more than counterbalance the cost of 

 suitable racks. 



