56 ON THE FOOD OF SHEEP. 



ens sheep, is always green, makes a good winter pas- 

 ture, and may be cut and given to lambs in troughs. 



Q. Do not sheep eat the bark of trees ? 



A. The bark of poplars, pines, and other trees, is 

 pealed, dried and broken to give sheep in the troughs ; 

 but is used only, when there is no other or better food. 



Q. Cannot sheep be fed with horse chesnuts ?* 



A. Sheep not only eat them when they are cut into 

 two or three parts, but they eat the outside shell also, 

 although it may have hard sharp points. 



Q. What other food is there which may be given 

 to sheep ? 



A. The stalks, leaves and pods of peas, beans, 

 vetches, lentils, and great beans may be given them, 

 after the vines have been threshed. Sheep like this 

 food better, and it is more nourishing, than straw : 

 the stalks of peas have less moisture than those of 

 beans. 



Q. What is the best kind of straw ? 



A. Oat straw is the best, because it is the most 

 tender : rye straw is better than wheat, because it is 

 not so hard, and there remains some grain in the 

 ears : the straw of bearded bearley may be hurtful, on 

 account of the beards, which stick to the wool, when 

 they fall on it. Sheep eat only the ear, the ends of 

 the stalk, and the leaves of the straw. This food is 

 not sufficient to maintain a flock in good plight; 

 something more nutritious should be given with it. 

 Q. What use is made of the chaff of grain ? 



* JEsculus Hippocastanum. 



