148 VARRO ON FARMING [bk. 



7 The second four divisions — feeding, breeding, 

 rearing, and the health of the flock, I will discuss 

 in order. 



In the first place you must see that the sheep be 

 properly fed, indoors and out, the whole year round ; 

 their stalls must be in a suitable place, free from 

 draughts, and facing east rather than south. The 

 ground on which they are to stand should be 

 levelled, and sloping, so that it may easily be swept 

 out and cleaned. For wet spoils not only a sheep's 

 wool, but the hoofs as well, and makes them 

 scabby. 



8 After they have been for some days [on the same 

 bedding] you must put under them fresh brushwood, 

 that they may have a softer couch to sleep on, and 

 be cleaner. For so their appetites are better. You 

 must also build pens apart from the rest that you 

 may be able to isolate the pregnant ewes, as well as 

 those which are ill. These instructions are applic- 

 able more especially to flocks which are kept at the 



9 farmstead. On the other hand, those others which 

 feed on grazing grounds, and are far from roofed 

 buildings, take with them hurdles or netting, with 

 which sheepfolds may be made in the wilderness — 

 and all other needful things. For generally, sheep 

 range far, and graze in places wide apart, the winter 

 pastures often being many miles from those used in 

 summer. I know that well enough, I exclaimed, 

 for flocks of mine used to winter in Apulia which 

 spent the summer on the mountains about Reate, 

 though the pastures were far from each other and 



