248 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA. 



more, and if it can be sloping all the better. It 

 should be well graveled with rather coarse 

 gravel, spread smooth. If it can be concreted 

 all the better, since it will then be very easily 

 kept clean. 



The reason for having a small yard is so that 

 it may the more readily be kept dry and clean, 

 and because in a large yard there is too' much 

 waste of manure. Lambs in the fattening pen 

 do not need exercise and are the better not to 

 have it. 



A word, too, about hay. With timothy hay 

 in the mow no attempt should be made to fat- 

 ten! lambs. Oat straw is as good, or as bad. 

 Bright shredded com stover is a little better, 

 and when fed in connection with abundant 

 wheat bran and a little oilmeal it will serve 

 very well. Without this extra supply of pro- 

 tein shredded com stover will not profitably 

 feed lambs. 



Now let us take the lambs home. They come 

 from the cars half famished, though there are 

 seldom any dead ones among them. What a 

 sight it is to see them devouring the grass 

 along the roadside as they go from the railway 

 to the farm! It is impossible to hurry them, 

 nor should one attempt it; let them take their 

 time. When they reach the bam we will turn 

 them first into some grass pasture where there 

 is water and there they may rest for two days, 

 supposing it to be yet fair and dry weather. 

 Then they must be dipped, unless we are ready 

 to accept the dipping at the yards. And at once 

 they go tp their yards and are initiated in|;p 



