PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 159 



the spring, while here the latter usually bear a much 

 higher price, which gives the feeder a great advantage. 

 The difference may be best illustrated by a simple cal- 

 culation. Suppose a wether of a good mutton breed 

 weighing 80 pounds in the fall to cost 6 cents per pound 

 ($4.80) and to require 20 pounds of hay per week, or 

 its equivalent in other food, and to gain a pound and a 

 half each week, the gain in weight in four months 

 would be about 25 pounds, which at 6 cents per pound 

 would be $1.50 or less than $10 per ton for the hay 

 consumed ; but if the same sheep could be bought in 

 fall for 3 cents per pound and sold in spring for 6 cents, 

 the gain would amount to $3.90 or upwards of $20 per 

 ton for the hay — ^the manure being the same in either 

 case. 



For fattening it is well to purchase animals as large 

 and thrifty and in as good condition as can be done at 

 fair prices ; and to feed liberally so as to secure the 

 most rapid increase which can be had without waste of 

 food. 



The fattening of sheep by the aid of oil cake or grain 

 purchased for the purpose, may often be made a cheaper 

 and altogether preferable mode of obtaining manure 

 than by the purchase of artificial fertilizers, as guano, 

 superphosphate of lime, &c. It is practiced exten- 

 sively and advantageously abroad and deserves at least 

 a fair trial here. 



