SHEEP. 83 
seem to suffer as much from the cold, for a period, as would 
be expected; but it is, next to impossible to feed them enough 
or half enough, under such circumstances, without an immense 
waste of hay—entirely impossible, without racks. The hay is 
whirled away in an instant by the wind; and even if racks are 
used, the sheep leaving their huddle where they were kept 
warm and even moist by the melting of the snow in their wool, 
soon get chilled and are disposed to return to their huddle. 
Imperfectly filled with food, the supply of animal heat is low- 
ered, and at the end of the second or third day the feeble ones 
have sunk down hopelessly, the yearlings and oldish ones have 
received a shock which nothing but careful nursing will recover 
them from, and even the strongest have suffered an injurious 
loss in condition. 
“The simplest and cheapest kind of shed is formed by poles 
or rails, the upper ends resting on a strong horizontal pole sup- 
ported by crotched posts set in the ground. It may be ren- 
dered rain-proof by pea-haulm, straw, or pine boughs, 
“Tn a region where lumber is very cheap, planks or boards 
(of sufficient thickness not to spring downward, and thus open 
the roof), battened with slabs, may take the place of the poles 
and boughs; and they would make a tighter and more durable 
roof. If the lower ends of the boards or poles are raised a 
couple of feet from the ground, by placing a log under them 
the shed will shelter more sheep. 
“These movable sheds may be connected with hay-barns, 
“hay-barracks,’ stacks, or they may surround an inclosed space 
with a stack in the middle. In the latter case, however, the 
yard should be square, instead of round, on account of the 
divergence in the lower ends of the boards or poles, which the 
round form would render necessary.” ‘ 
2. Feeding-Racks.—‘‘ When the ground is frozen, and espe- 
cially when covered with snow, the sheep eats hay better on 
the ground than anywhere else. When the land is soft, muddy, 
or foul with manure, they will scarcely touch hay placed on it, 
It should then be fed in racks, 
