SHEEP. 93 
riety of circumstances would influence this point; such as the 
character~of the pasturage, and the proportion of the same 
fitted and desirable for tillage. 
“2. Sheep enrich Jand by the manufacture of considerable 
quantities of excellent manure. A farmer of long experience 
in sheep husbandry, thought there was no manure so fertilizing 
as that of sheep, and (of which there is no doubt) that none 
dropped by the animal upon the land suffered so little by waste 
from exposure. A German agricultural writer has calculated 
that the droppings from one thousand sheep during a single 
night would manure an acre sufficiently for any crop. By using 
a portable fence, and moving the same from time to time, a 
farmer might manure a distant field with sheep at less expense 
than that of carting and spreading barn manure. 
“The value of sheep to the farmer is much enhanced by due 
attention to their wants. Large flocks kept together are sel- 
dom profitable, while small assorted flocks always pay well, if 
fed as they should be. To get good fleeces of wool, and large, 
healthy lambs from poor neglected sheep, is impossible. It is 
also true that the expense of keeping is often least with the 
flocks that are always kept in good condition. The eye and 
thought of the owner are far more necessary than large and 
irregular supplies of fodder. Division of the flock and shelter, 
with straw and a little grain, will bring them through to spring 
pastures in far better order than if kept together, with double 
rations of hay, one half of which is wasted by the stronger 
animals, while the weak of the flock pick up but a scanty liv- 
ing, and oftentimes fail to get that through the whole winter. 
“We commend this subject to the consideration of our corre- 
spondents; it is one which needs greater attention on the part 
of the farming public.” 
VI.—AFFECTION OF THE EWE. 
The Ettrick Shepherd tells the following story of the con- 
tinued affection of the ewe for her dead Jamb: 
“ One of the two years while I remained on the farm at Wil- 
