SHEEP 365 
exercise in the case of sheep, so that a little ingenuity and 
good judgment are necessary. Another matter that needs 
attention during the long winter is the feet of the animals. 
In summer the wear at the bottom of the hoof keeps pace 
with its growth, but when the feet are idle for months at a 
time, the toes may become so long that they must be trimmed 
to avoid bad results. 
QUESTIONS AND PROJECTS 
Find out all you can about the sheep kept in your vicinity (1) by 
personal observation, (2) by talking with the owners and others. Here 
are some specific questions. 
1. Breeds. — What breeds are kept? Describe their general appear- 
ance, size, color of nose, ears, and feet ; whether any of them have horns, 
etc. 
2. The.wool.—(a) Its quality; on what part of the body is the 
finest of the fleece produced? Where does the coarsest grow? (b) The 
weight of the fleece; are the entire head and legs covered, or partially 
bare? 
3. Mutton. — What is the weight of the animals, and their merits as 
mutton producers? Is the flock’ primarily a mutton breed or a wool 
breed ? 
4. The increase. — (a) How many ewes are there in the flock, and 
how many lambs did they raise last year? (b) What special care do 
young lambs require? (c) How are the lambs disposed of the following 
autumn or winter? 
5. Summer feeding and care. — (a) How many sheep in the flock? 
how large is the pasture? how many sheep is that per acre? (0) Do 
they feed on the same pasture all the time or are they occasionally 
changed from one pasture to another? What is the advantage of such 
a change? (c) What other feed do the sheep receive during the 
summer ? 
6. Winter feeding and care. — (a) What feed do the sheep receive 
in winter? How many times a day and by what method is it given 
to them? (b) What kind of shelter do they have? How often is fresh 
bedding put down for them? (c) Are they given daily exercise? How 
