386 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



that may be used as green feeds for summer pasture, chief of 

 which are rye, oats, alfalfa, clover, rape, kale, cabbage, turnips, 

 and pumpkins. 



While it is less trouble to provide permanent pastures and 

 grow the common farm crops for the sheep, and while sheep may 

 be maintained upon them alone, it is nevertheless essential to 

 highest and healthiest development. Such food aids in escap- 

 ing the ravishes of the parasites. Rape, kale, cabbage, and 

 turnips add to the healthfulness and soundness as well as the 

 quality of the wool, and pumpkin seeds are among the best 

 vermifuges known. The owner who is to attain greatest success 

 with sheep will find it necessary to grow such supplementary 

 foods. They need not necessarily occupy extra land, as both 

 rape and pumpkins may be grown in the corn field and the 

 corn not be injured thereby ; or they may be grown similarly 

 to soiling crops for dairy cattle (page 220). There will be extra 

 labor connected with harvesting and feeding, but the ad- 

 vantage will pay many times over. It is these little things 

 that make sheep farming profitable. 



The flock in winter 



In winter the flock is entirely dependent on the care of the 

 owner, and it must receive more careful attention than during 

 the summer. This is the season of catarrhs, running at the nose, 

 inflammation, diarrhea, and the like. When convenient, the 

 change from the fields to the yards should be made gradually. 

 The flock should be yarded at night as soon as the pastures be- 

 come crisp from night frosts, as frosty forage is likely to lead to 

 digestive disorders. Hay should be provided in the lot, so that 

 the sheep will not go to pasture hungry in the forenoon. If on 

 permanent pasture or where there is much old grass, such yard- 

 ing is not so necessary, as the sheep will feed on the dead grass in 

 preference to the frosty succulent grass. 



The winter ration. — The feeds that should enter into the 



