344 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



RACKS OR MANGERS are indispensable to economical feed- 

 ing. If the hay is fed on the ground, the leaves and seeds, 

 the most valuable part of the fodder, are almost wholly lost, 

 and when wet, the sheep in their restlessness while feeding, 

 will tread much of it into the mud. To make an economical 

 box or rack, take 6 light pieces of scantling, say 3 inches 

 square, one for each corner, and one for the centre of each 

 side. Boards of pine or hemlock, 12 -or 15 foot long and 12 

 or 14 inches wide, may then be nailed on to the bottom of the 

 posts for the sides, which are separated by similar boards at 

 the ends, 2 feet long. Boards 12 inches wide, raised above 

 the lower ones by a space of 9 to 12 inches, are nailed on the 

 sides and ends, which completes the rack. The edges of the 

 opening should be made perfectly smooth to prevent chafing 

 the wool. The largest dimensions above given are suitable 

 for the large breeds, and the smallest for the Saxon, and still 

 smaller are proper for their lambs. These should be set on 

 dry ground, or under the sheds, and they can easily be remo- 

 ved wherever necessary. Some prefer the racks made with 

 slats, or smooth, upright sticks, in the form of the usual horse 

 rack. There is no objection to this, but it should always be 

 accompanied by a board trough affixed to the bottom, to catch 

 the fine hay which falls in feeding. These may be attached 

 to the side of a building, or used double. A small lamb re- 

 quires 15 inches of space and a large sheep 2 feet, for quiet, 

 comfortable feeding, and at least this amount of room should 

 be provided around the racks for every sheep. 



TROUGHS may be variously constructed. The most econo- 

 mical are made with two boards of any convenient length, 10 

 to 12 inches wide. Nail the lower side of one upon the edge 

 of the other, fastening both into a two or three inch plank, 

 15 inches long and a foot wide, notched in its upper edge in 

 the form required. 



FOOD. There is no better food for sheep than ripe, sound, 

 timothy hay, though the clovers and nearly all the cultivated 

 grasses may be advantageously fed. Bean and pea straw 

 are valuable, and especially the former, which if properly 

 cured, they prefer to the best hay ; and it is well adapted 

 to the production of \vool. All the other straws furnish a 

 good food, and sheep will thrive on them without hay when 

 fed with roots or grain. Roots ought to be given them occa- 

 sionally for a change, and especially to the ewes after lamb- 

 ing, if this occurs before putting them on to fresh pasture. 

 They keep the stomach properly distended, the appetite and 



