504 History of the Anther's 



days, and then taken off and put on grass for three days, with a cart load of the 

 cabbages given them daily. From the 25th of August to the 31st, both inclusive, 

 24 ewes, six ram-stags,* six 4-tooth and two 2-tooth wethers, were constantly fed 

 and folded on them. These were then taken away, and 57 ewes and a ram were 

 kept on them for some days. These were followed, on the evening of the 7th, by 

 six old rams, two wethers, and 45 ram-lambs. On the loih, the ram-lambs not 

 eating them v;cll, the whole lot was removed, and 41 ewes, ram-stags, and wethers 

 were substituted. On the 21st, loewes and 11 ram-stags and wethers were taken 

 away, leaving only 20 old ewes, which finished the cabbages on the 2d of October. 

 All these sheep did well except the ram lambs; and those who witnessed this ex- 

 periment thought the result a proof not only of the value of cabbages, but of the 

 capacity of my sheep to support hard keep without the least inconvenience. This 

 conclusion will be confirmed when I state, that I did not come into possession of 

 the ground till the latter end of March; that it was poor, and full of weeds; and 

 that the cabbages were not planted till the middle of April, without manure, and 

 at two feet asunder, which proved to be much too great a distance for their 

 eventual growth: In consequence of all which circumstances, the produce could 

 not fairly be estimated at much more than half a crop. 



Every one knows the value of rape as a spring food for sheep and lambs. I have 

 found it very profitable. 



I have occasionally given my sheep carrots and a few potatoes. But my soil is 

 too shallow for the former, and the latter has hitherto been chiefly superseded by 

 the cabbage. I have, indeed, found great difficulty in making my sheep eat them; 

 and, at this moment, having a considerable quantity applicable only to the feeding 

 of cattle, am trying a variety of expedients in order to accomplish that end. 



One or other of these kinds of food should never be wanting, not only for the 

 supply of milk to the lambs, but for the nourishment of the adult and growing sheep. 

 Dry hay alone is unnatural ; and, if it does not disagree wiih the animal in the 

 winter, renders him exceedingly prone to scour, when he suddenly changes it for 

 fresh grass in the spring. A proper and regular admixture of green vegetables 

 through the winter prevents this effect, not only by having been habitual, but by 

 disinclining the sheep to gorge themselves with food of a new flavour. 



I formerly raised for my sheep the succory, chicoree, or wild endive (Chicoreunj 

 # Our provincial name for rams cut after they are one and a half or two years old, 



