50 ON THE FOOD OF SHEEP. 



Q. Are there not more nourishing things than 

 roots to be given to sheep in winter ? 



A. Grains, seeds, and vegetables are more nutri- 

 cious than roots. 



Q. What grains are given to sheep ? 



A. Oats (1), barley, and wheat bran, are very ben- 

 eficial for them ; a small handful of barley and oats, 

 given every day to each sheep, is sufficient to pre- 

 serve a flock from the bad effects of winter fodder. 



Q. What seeds do they give sheep ? 



A. Hay chaff, hemp seed (2), broom seed (3), a- 

 corns, and cakes of hemp, turnip (4), and colewort 

 seed. 



Q. What is hay chaff? 



A. It is what collects and remains at the foot of 

 hay stacks, and in hay lofts, after the hay has been 

 taken away. 



Q. What is there beneficial in hay chaff? 



A. The seeds of many sorts of plants, which are 

 nourishing, and among them such as strengthen the 

 stomach, and aid digestion. 



Q. What is the effect of hemp seed ? 



A. It warms and gives strength to sheep, and ex- 

 cites them to copulation. 



Q. What is done to procure and prepare broom 

 seed, intended for the use of sheep ? 



A. When the broom seed is very ripe, to gather 

 it, the branches" are shaken over sheets of cloth, 

 and some handfuls of this seed is given with other 



(1) Avena saliva, L,. (3) Ulex europoeus, L. 



(5!) Cannabis saliva, J (4) Napus silvestris, I<. 



