SHEEP SHELTEE. 125 



as well as hay. This double rack placed through the 

 center of the basement above described, will divide it into 

 two apartments, and receive its fodder from the opening in 

 the floor above. 



If this rack is to be used against a wall it can be made 

 single by dividing it perpendicularly in the middle. It can 

 be made single as well as double. If it is to be used as a 

 short rack, and the end not placed against a wall, then 

 the end must be boarded or slatted. 



This rack would be equally convenient in the yard, 

 where it is appropriate to feed in the open yard. The 

 trough in the illustration is supposed to be 12 inches wide 

 and 8 inches deep, but it may be made wider if desired. 

 We think this rack and trough will be found to prevent 

 the sheep, as far as possible, from rubbing off their wool 

 in eating their food, and that it also prevents the waste of 

 food, and besides saves labor in feeding by providing for 

 feeding grain and coarse fodder together. 



On the Western plains very little attention is paid to 

 shelter for sheep. Yet we think even there a temporary 

 shelter should always be provided, and if the ranch is large, 

 and little, if any, winter fodder is provided, there should 

 be several warm sheep corrals, made with poles and 

 thatched with wild grass or straw. These may be arranged 

 so as to protect the sheep from wind and snow-storms. 

 Such precaution will often save a large part of the flock, 

 and always bring them through in better condition. Tem- 

 perature has much to do with the necessity for food. Ex- 

 posure to hard storms makes a heavy draft upon the food 

 to keep up animal heat, and if food is short the heat must 

 come from the store of fat laid up in the body* 



The need of shelter is less in the South, but the temper- 

 ature there often falls so low as to render shelter a matter 

 of economy to the mutton and wool-grower. Shelter, as a 

 means of preserving animal heat, is cheaper than food, 

 even in the South. 



