202 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



easy access tn the sheep, and being so near the ground as to form an excellent shelter. It 

 is made of wood, is 9 feet in length. 4^ feet in hight, and 3 feet in width, having a spaiTed 

 ruck with a double face below, which is covered with an angled roof of boards to throw oflF 

 ihe nun The rack is sujiported on two triangular-shaped nessels b, shod with iron at the 

 |vjinta, wliich are puslied into the ground, and act as stays against the effects of the wind 

 from either side. The billet c, fixed on tjie under or acute edge of the rack, rests upon the 

 ground, and in common with the feet, supports it from bending down in the middle. T\w 



Ud a i* oj)ened on hinges when the fodder is put into the rack Such a rack is easily 



moved about by two persoi 



of wind indicative of a stonn. 



id their position should be changed according to a change 



I used racks formed of rounds (or " sparred ") for several years, and 

 found them decidedly objectionable. The sheep grasping a lock of hay in 

 its mouth, brings the head to its natural position, and then draws in the 

 adhering fibres in the process of mastication. But when eating from a 

 rack, it will not pick up the hay which it droj)S under foot. In the box or 

 hole racks (figs. 31 and 32) most sheep will not willulraw their heads 

 from the openings, as they can there hold them in the ordinary position 

 for mastication, and as, if they step hack to do so, they are very liable to 

 be crowded out of their places. The hay, therefore, is not drawn ou*" jf 

 the rack, and if any is dropped, it falls within it and is saved. At a cparred 

 rack, the sheep will not keep its nose between the rundles (in a. horizon- 

 tal or upward position) until it detaches a mere mouthfull of hay. It will, 

 particularly when partly sated, tioitch out its fodder prior to mastication, 

 and all which scatters off and drops to the ground, is trampled under f(»ot 

 and wasted, except for the mere purpose of manure. A considerable loss 

 will always result fiom this cause. 



And there is another objection to this form of rack, particularly where 

 it runs down to an acute edge on the bottom, as in fig. 33. The sheep 

 frequently drawing the hay from the lower part, will shake down fiom 

 above hay-seeds and chafl'into the wool on their head and necks ; and the 

 wind will sometimes carry these as far as their shoulders and even their 

 backs. As heretofore remarked, these cannot be washed out, and the', 

 niiiteiially lower the market value of the wool. 



The f(jllovving rack has been used and is highly approved by my friend 

 George Geddes, Esq., of Fairmount, N. Y., to whom I am indebted fo 

 the drawing and description of the cut. It serves both for a rack am: 

 feeding-trough. 



Fig. 34. 



THK HOPPER-RACK. 



" Tho above is intended to represent a section of what I think the best sheep-rack i ha\ 



" A piece of durable wood abou i, 4^ feet long, 6 or 8 inches deep, and 4 inches thick 

 \aM twT) notches, a, a, cut into it, and two troughs made of inch boards, b, b, b, b, placed ii 



