SHEEP 



77 



months, than if the sheep were confined to one pasture 

 and the cows to the other, through the entire season. 



But the greatest benefit which our worn out pastures 

 derive from sheep is from their droppings. And in 

 this connection, perhaps, I may be permitted to allude 

 to the peculiar structure of the sheep's foot, and to 

 some of his habits, which, in my opinion, induce an ex- 

 tensive, and more equal distribution of this valuable 

 fertilizer than of that from any other animal, and which 

 also leads to the deposition of the largest quantity of it 

 just where it is most needed. 



The delicate and sensitive arrangements of the inter- 

 nal porton of the sheep's foot are protected by a hard 

 horny substance, somewhat resembling the nail on one's 

 fingers, which extends in a thin layer around the out- 

 side of each division of the foot, past the toe and turn- 

 ing inward nearly half way to the heel. This nail-like 

 substance, in its natural condition, is worn down nearly 

 even with the bottom of the hoof, and presents an im- 

 pervious outside coating for the foot and a firm blunt 

 edge for it to rest upon. But this homey substance or 

 edge is constantly growing, as the thumb nail grows, 

 and if the growth is not removed, will project below, 

 and usually turn under the rest of the foot, causing 

 great inconvenience in locomotion, and serving as a 

 receptacle for earth, gravel, or filth which is uncom- 

 fortable and unhealthy and liable to work through 

 openings that may be formed within the hoof to the 

 more sensitive portions, producing ulcers, or other sores 

 which ultimately lead to the dreadful disease known as 

 " foot rot," or the edges may be broken off irregularly 

 to the quick, as one's nails are sometimes broken to the 

 tender flesh, producing similar sores and tending to the 

 same result. 



