MANNER OF FEEDING SHEEP. 61 



it is found, that they have taken only a part of the 

 food which is necessary for them, what is deficient 

 must be supplied by fodder at the rack. 



Q. What quantity of grass does a sheep eat in a 

 day? 



A. A sheep of a middling size will eat every day, 

 according to an experiment which was made of it, 

 eight pounds of grass, which was taken from a good 

 pasture, in the drying of which, it lost three quarter 

 parts of its weight, reducing the eight pounds of grass 

 to two pounds of hay : therefore, a sheep of a mid- 

 dling size will eat eight pounds of grass, or two 

 pounds of hay, in the same space of time. But when 

 they eat grass only, they drink little, or not at all ; and 

 when their food is dry, they drink a great deal. 



Q. What water is best for sheep ? 



A. River water, and running streams, are the best ; 

 the water of lakes and ponds runs off in part, and is 

 to be preferred to the stagnant water of marshes. It 

 is improper to allow sheep to drink at such places, 

 except at times, when other water cannot be pro- 

 cured. The worst water is that, which is stagnant 

 in swamps, ponds, ditches, furrows, &c. When it 

 is required to give it from wells or cisterns, it is prop* 

 er to expose it to the air for some time, before giving 

 it : stagnant and putrid water is very hurtful to sheep, 

 and may cause their death. 



Q. What quantity of water do sheep drink ? 



A. They drink but little, when in good health : 

 when a sheep is seen running to water with great ea.. 

 gerness, it is a sign that he is diseased, or will 50011 



