40 PASTURING OF SHEEP. 



A. Sheep cannot feed, when the earth is covered 

 with snow to such a depth, as to prevent them from 

 uncovering it with their feet. Then they should be 

 driven to the field only to give them drink, and exer- 

 cise. But when the wind is very high, or the rain 

 very abundant, the flock should not be taken out, un- 

 til the storm abates. 



Q. At what o'clock ought sheep to be led to pas- 

 ture ? 



A. At sun-rise, when there is no dew or fog ; when 

 there is, it is proper to wait, until both are dissipated. 



Q. At what o'clock, and how is a flock to be put 

 in the shade ? 



A. When the heat begins to oppress it in the field ; 

 when the sheep stop feeding, are agitated, or the flies 

 torment them, &c. it is proper to put them in the 

 shade ; in a cool place well exposed to the air, where 

 they may be removed from flies and chew their cud at 

 ease. It would be dangerous to put too great a num- 

 ber of them, into a close stable ; they might die there, 

 suffocated by the heated air, and the vapour from 



their bodies. 



Q. What is chewing the cud in sheep ? 



A. When they feed in the field, or eat at the rack, 

 they chew their food, so only, as to enable them to 

 swallow it, when it falls into the paunch, which is the 

 largest of the stomachs : when the animal lies down, 

 after having eaten its fill, he draws what is in his stom- 

 ach into his mouth, at different times, and chews it, 

 afresh ; this is called chewing the cud : he afterwards 



