THE HURDLING METHOD 



23 



The Farm Flock Method. — The flocks kept on the farms of 

 the East, South and Middle West of the United States often contain 

 fewer than 25 sheep and seldom more than 400 or 500. They are not 

 under the care of special herders or shepherds, but of persons en- 

 trusted with other duties connected with the farm. As a rule these 

 flocks are a factor of secondary importance in a scheme of diversified 

 farming. Often they are kept for the purpose of destroying weeds, 

 and thej' are commonly given the compliment of converting into 

 mutton and wool what otherwise would be waste. But farm flocks 



Fig. 9. — Supplementing the winter range with hay and other feed reduces the losses of 

 old sheep, increases tlie vitality of the oncoming crop of lambs, and fills the udders of the 

 ewes with milk for the lambs. 



that are made to subsist mostly on weeds and waste are neither in- 

 telligently handled nor profitable. Since farm fiocks represent the 

 type of sheep raising followed in so many parts of the United 

 States, much of the discussion which follows will be devoted to 

 their selection, care and management (Fig. 10). 



The Hurdling Method. — The hurdling method of sheep raising 

 may be seen in its perfection in England, where thousands of sheep 

 are kept within hurdles for several months in the year. It is also 

 much in use in Scotland. It is a type of sheep raising extremely 

 different from the range method. It is intensive, supporting several 

 sheep on each acre of land. 



