222 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



Ample ventilation, without draughts, is greatly to be de- 

 sired in a sheep barn. 



The hay racks, A, are built with flat bottom troughs in 

 front, to catch scraps of hay and to feed grain in bad 

 weather. B, water trough. C, well. D, dipping tub. E, 

 shearing table. F, hospital. G, nursery. H, feeding place 

 for lambs, entered by creeps. K, closet, large enough to hold 

 all the tools and instruments required about a sheep barn, so 

 that they may be found when wanted. If ear tabs, worm 

 powders, cordial, and some sheep dip are constantly kept 

 in stock, it w r ill save both time and sheep. The distance all 

 being the same, a 14 ft. gate, which will lift off the hinges. 

 may be placed at any desired point, to divide the flock into 

 as many lots as may be desired, and a great many combina- 

 tions may be had with a couple of light gates and a little 

 thought. A gate placed in middle of center drive, or at post 

 opposite hospital door, and one midway the water trough, 

 will divide the room about equally and allow both access to 

 water. The top half of the doors are on rollers, the lower on 

 hinges. The doors may be fastened open and the gate hung 

 in doorway. This barn will accommodate 125 breeding 

 ewes, and hay enough to see them through. If more storage 

 room is needed for hay, build it higher and it will look 

 better. 



SHEPHERD DOGS. 



The Collie dogs are remarkable for great intelligence, 

 an" instinct which seems sometimes to surpass reason; won- 

 derful endurance, and activity. Without these dogs, sheep- 

 keeping in many districts, useful for no other branch of 

 agriculture, would be impossible. The home of this breed is 

 the Scotch highlands, a locality of rocks and hills, inter- 

 spersed with grassy valleys; elevated tablelands bearing 

 scanty herbage, and "moors," or level or slightly undulating 

 tracts covered with gorse, heather, low bushes, boggy places, 

 and scattered rocks. Upon these hills sheep are kept in large 

 flocks, exposed from day to day to all the vicissitudes of 

 storms, mists, rains, and snows, with no other shelter than is 

 afforded by the lee side of abrupt precipices, overhanging 

 rocks, stone walls, or in rough sheds of poles and heather. 

 Without, his dogs the shepherd would be helpless to manage 

 his flock in this rough country. In countries where arable 



