35» 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



good condition on a ration consisting largely of oat straw at less than 

 one cent a day. The amounts of food left by the sheep were very simi- 

 lar to that left by the cord-fodder; as the ewes left twenty per cent, of 

 the corn-fodder and twenty-two per cent, of the oat straw. While it is 

 not proper to recommend an exclusive oat straw and grain ration, (be- 

 cause this is the result of only one experiment) upon this trial alone, yet 

 it proves that oat straw may be u;ed with profit, at least when fed with 

 other fodders. 



3. While timothjr hay is a good dry fodder for sheep, }^et, looking for 

 the best results and closest economy, it would be best to give the prefer- 

 ence to oat straw and corn-fodder, where these fodders are available at a 

 comparative price not exceeding that of hay. 



4. Corn silage is valuable for breeding ewes, surpassing the other suc- 

 culent fodders used in this experiment in cheapness, by keeping the 

 sheep in good thriving condition, and leading to a good flow of 

 milk. 



5. Clover silage, if properly preserved, is a good sheep food. The 

 sheep, after getting used to it, eat it with avidity, and do well on it. 

 Against it is the cost of making and the difficulty in preserving it. 



6. Sugar beets are liked by sheep, but they cannot be said to equal 

 either of the other succulent fodders experimented with. They are apt 

 to induce scouring if fed in quantities of over four pounds, daily to 

 each ewe. 



A GROUP OF ALGERIANS. 



