SHEEP. 83 



seem to suffer as much from the cold, for a period, as would 

 be expected ; but it is next to impossible to feed them enough 

 or half enough, under such circumstances, without an immense 

 waste of hay entirely impossible, without racks. The hay is 

 whirled away in an instant by the wind ; and even if racks are 

 used, the sheep leaving their huddle where they were kept 

 warm and even moist by the melting of the snow in their wool, 

 soon get chilled and are disposed to return to their huddle. 

 Imperfectly filled with food, the supply of animal heat is low- 

 ered, and at the end of the second or third day the feeble ones 

 have sunk down hopelessly, the yearlings and oldish ones have 

 received a shock which nothing but careful nursing will recover 

 them from, and even the strongest have suffered an injurious 

 loss in condition. 



"The simplest and cheapest kind of shed is formed by poles 

 or rails, the upper ends resting on a strong horizontal pole sup- 

 ported by crotched posts set in the ground. It may be ren- 

 dered rain-proof by pea-haulm, straw, or pine boughs. 



" In a region where lumber is very cheap, planks or boards 

 (of sufficient thickness not to spring downward, and thus open 

 the roof), battened with slabs, may take the place of the poles 

 and boughs ; and they would make a tighter and more durable 

 roof. If the lower ends of the boards or poles are raised a 

 couple of feet from the ground, by placing a log under them 

 the shed will shelter more sheep. 



"These movable sheds may be connected with hay-barns, 

 'hay-barracks,' stacks, or they may surround an inclosed space 

 with a stack in the middle. In the latter case, however, the 

 yard should be square, instead of round, on account of the 

 divergence in the lower ends of the boards or poles, which the 

 round form would render necessary." 



2. Feeding-Racks. " When the ground is frozen, and espe- 

 cially when covered with snow, the sheep eats hay better on 

 the ground than anywhere else. When the land is soft, muddy, 

 or foul with manure, they will scarcely touch hay placed on it. 

 It should then be fed in racks. 



