254 MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 



very necessary. Let four pieces of 3 by 4 inch scantling 

 be used for posts, to which slats or boards 4 or 5 inches in 

 width should be nailed, and sufficiently close to prevent the 

 sheep from putting their heads between them. On each 

 side of the pen should be fastened a slat diagonally, which 

 adds to its strength. The posts may be 3f feet high, and 

 the pen ahout five feet square. Thus the hay is not run 

 over by the sheep when thrown down, and injured ; and if 

 the quantity should exceed a foddering, it can remain in the 

 pen, and the trouble of pitching it back is saved. 



REGULARITY OF FODDERING. 



The remarks as to regularity of feeding when fattening 

 are equally applicable to store sheep. At a given hour na- 

 ture calls for the allowance of food, and the careful shepherd 

 will see that it is not transgressed. But it is not more a 

 fixed time, than regular quantity, which needs observance. 

 Quantity, however, varies with temperature, as wpll as the 

 quality of the fodder, of which the reader has already been 

 made acquainted. 



There are not a few who think it necessary that sheep 

 should be fed four times per day ; but this is wholly un- 

 necessary — three is quite often enough. If fed early in the 

 morning, at noon, and, in the heart of winter, an hour and a 

 half before sunset, it affords them ample time between feed- 

 ings for quiet rumination and rest, which is interrupted by 

 more frequent attentions. Let the roots, grain, or whatnot 

 always be fed at' noon; after which the sheep will work at 

 the stubbs or coarser parts of the hay or straw left of the 

 morning foddering ; and thus all is consumed. If, however, 

 the temperature is severg, let a little fresh fodder be given in 

 addition to their grain. 



BARNS AND SHELTERS. 



Of the utility of bams for the protection of fodder no one 

 will question, and that a well-constructed barn is conducive 

 to economy, is susceptible^ of demonstration. Hay is often 

 essentially damaged when stacking, by a sudden and violent 

 rain ; whereas, whatever is secured in a bam is freed there- 

 after from harm. Again, a skilful stacker is rare, and there- 

 fore much hay is subjected to damage from this cause ; and 

 when unthatched, of course mucl^is injured on the surface. 

 Taking only these into view, the inducement is ample for 



