4o8 Dr. Parry's Essay on the Nature, Produce, Origin, 



The Swedes consider salt as very wholesome for sheep. They allow it them 

 chiefly in damp or rainy weather, occasionally mixing with it wormwood and other 

 bitter plants, juniper berries, and even tar. The plants and berries are powdered, 

 mixed in water with the tar and salt, and put into troughs, across which are nailed, 

 at proper intervals, branches of fir, in order to prevent the sheep from jumping in, 

 or soiling themselves. 



The shearing takes place about the beginning of July; previously to which the 

 sheep are washed, by some in running water, by others in buckets of warm water, 

 mixed with a small quantity of alkaline lye, and of urine ; after which they are 

 rinsed with clean water. Two or three days, or more, are suffered to elapse before 

 shearing, in order that the wool may dry, and become soft by a fresh rise of the 

 yolk. The average weight of the well washed ewes" fleeces seems to be full three 

 pounds, and of the lamb's fleeces one pound. 



The Danes, about the year 1789, carried from Sweden some Merino sheep; 

 a few of the descendants of which still remain, and give good wool. 



In 1797, the government of Denmark imported from Spain 300 sheep, which 

 were placed at Esserum, eight leagues from Copenhagen. This flock was composed 

 of all the best breeds in Spain, as those of the Escurial, Guadaloupe, Paular, In- 

 fantado, Montasco, and Negrette. Only two of this number had died, when they 

 were seen by M. Lasteyrie eighteen months afterwards. 



The flocks were under the care of M. M. Nelson and Wiborg. They are kept 

 in airy houses, with separate divisions for the rams, ewes, and lambs, and outlets 

 into corresponding yards ; and they are fed in the house with hay, or rye and oat- 

 straw, which are cut into chaff. This last practice is common in the north of 

 Europe. At the beginning of the winter, they are almost wholly fed with straw 

 and the leaves of trees; and about the first of January, they begin to have one 

 meal of hay. They are fed thrice a day, and have each about 3 'lb. of dry food 

 per diem. In warm weather, they are sent out into inclosed pastures without a 

 shepherd; and on the commons are driven with a tame bell-wether, instead of a 

 dog. W hen the rains are violent, they are kept night and day in the house, which 

 is well cooled by thorough air. On other occasions, except when the snow is very 

 deep, they go out every day into the inclosures. Salt is given them, especially in 

 wet weather, or when they begin to exchange green for dry food. Some persons 

 ive them the heads of salt herrings, or the brine which has been used for pickling 



