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[ASSEMBLT 



I build some of these sheep barns of sufficient size, to contain a 

 bay in one end; the shed which you see in perspective is of this 

 class, 25 by 34 feet, twelve feet at one end is occupied for storing 

 hay; the door represented at a, is the pitching hole. The basement 

 is constructed with double doors of sufficient width, for backing in a 

 cart or sled, to accommodate in loading the manure from below 

 and above, by raising a plank in the floor. Some of these sheds are 

 erected near our hay barns, where we can take the advantage of the 

 rising ground for stock to enter the upper story, at others, the ground 

 is raised at one end, as seen in the accompanying draft. 



I am decidedly opposed to stowing hay as many do, in the lofts 

 over cattle or sheep, unless a tight floor be laid over head. The ef- 

 fluvia and steam that arises from the animals and manure below, 

 impregnates the hay above, and stock eat it with reluctance; hay 

 keeps fresh and the sweetest in the solid mow. 



It is of great importance that sheep walks should be dry at all 

 seasons of the year, wet yards are very weakening and injurious. 



Our weakest sheep and stock bucks, are fed a little grain through 

 the winter, the main flock get no grain, except the breeding ones, 

 these a few weeks previous to lambing, are fed corn or oats, or what 

 is better, a mixture of carrots and sugar beets cut up and fed with 

 two quarts of oil meal, to half a bushel of roots to each flock. The 

 main portion of the lambs drop in May; but we allow some choice 

 ewes to yean them one month earlier. 



I have a few merino ewes which I imported from Lord Western's 

 flock in 1836. In 1808, the Cortes of Spain tendered a present to 

 the king (George III,) of five hundred ewes, to distribute among his 

 subjects, and his lordship selected forty ewes out of the whole flock. 



