6 Sheep-Farming 



small hoof is also helpful to many loose soils. The 

 sheep's habit of lying upon the highest part of the 

 field or pasture leaves the larger part of the drop- 

 pings at the place they are most needed. Rape 

 grown in cornfields can be satisfactorily utilized 

 only by sheep. The fact that sheep can be most 

 satisfactorily used to feed off green crops is of im- 

 portance in the solution of the farm labor problem. 

 There is a saving of the cost of harvesting the crop 

 and of feeding it out again, and nothing is sacrificed 

 in the returns secured from the land so utilized. A 

 flock that is kept in this way and that is large enough 

 to feed off the forage that can be raised on a con- 

 siderable part of a farm requires a good deal of 

 attention. Competent shepherds are not plentiful, 

 but competent hands that have the true stockman's 

 instincts can learn the shepherd's art. Though con- 

 tinuous, the labor is varied and much lighter and 

 more attractive than ordinary field labor. 



Peculiar advantages in sheep-farming. — There are 

 other points to be weighed in deciding the place to 

 be given to sheep in any plan of stock-farming. Not 

 only may they be used to utilize otherwise waste 

 land, but they convert into mutton or wool much 

 material that cannot be utilized by other animals. 

 Particularly is this true of lost grain left in stubble. 

 Volunteer growth or aftermath too scanty to afford 

 pasturage for other stock is just suited to the roving 

 habits of the sheep. Moreover, their manner of 



