630 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
the breeding ewe, are kept in a good store state upon from 25 lbs. to 
30 lbs. of roots with straw. The digestive apparatus of sheej) is very- 
similar ; and yet, though only one-tenth the weight of the cow, we find 
ewes still eating 20 lbs. to 30 lbs. of turnips almost without dry food. 
Sm-ely we have here evidence of an extravagant system. The diffi- 
culty lies in carrying out the plan economically. Many will say that 
the labour is too great, and that breeding sheep so treated will not pay 
for attendance. In reply, I would ask, what proportion does the cost 
of consuming bear to the cost of growing ? An acre of swedes can 
seldom be produced for less than hi. To clean and cut up the same, 
according to our present system, would not exceed 11. If by doubling 
the expenses of feeding you can double the number of sheep kept, as 
many sheep can be fed for 3/. 10s. as under the old system for &l. 
That breeding-sheep will readily eat food so prepared I have proved 
by experiment, and that they must thrive much better on such a mix- 
ture than on roots alone is also certain. I would sketch out for your 
consideration the following plan : — The crop should be stacked in a 
convenient position, and when it has been thrashed, the straw, &c., 
should be again carefully stacked and thatched ; roo^ should be cleared 
and laid in large heaps and at such distances apart as will allow of 
sheep lying two days on the same ground; use a combined pulper 
and chalf-cutter on wheels, worked by horse-gear ; a light roomy house 
on wheels, with canvas sides, to store mixtiu'e for second day's use ; 
four days a-week one horse and a lad will be employed extra ; a load 
of straw, first carted from stack to heap of roots, then the two cut up, 
the produce of morning's work being used for the day's food, that 
cut later in the day stored away in house for the following day. 
Messrs. Samuelson and Co., of Banbury, inform me that they make 
machines of the kind referred to, which, worked by two men, will turn 
out 100 bushels of the mixture per horn-. I merely advance this idea 
in the hope that it may lead some competent judges to state their 
opinions. I think it would do best on dry healthy land ; but where 
a considerable percentage of clay exists, the land is at times so sticky 
and wet that a good lodging at night is of the utmost importance ; in 
that case the sheep thrive best when lying back on a well-littcred fold, 
aujiplied with straw in racks. Whichever system may be foimd most 
paying, whether pulping or gnawing, the health of the animals will be 
maintained and food economized by supplying them with dry lodgings. 
Before the ewes go to the lambiug-pen they sliould be dressed with a 
solution to destroy lice and ticks, and prevent all rubbing. The best 
plan is to have a double line of eight to ten hm-dles set up, foiu* feet 
apart, at each end more hurdles at right angles, so as to form places 
for entrance and exit. The ewes di-aw in and stand so close together 
that they are easily handled by the attendants — three in number, — one 
holds the sheep, another attends to the liquid, and hands it to the 
third, who, with an old tea-pot or similar vessel, with a spout, pours 
the solution along the back from licad to rump, three times backwards 
and forwards, one pint of liquid to each sheep. The more quiet ewes 
can bo kcjit during all stages of pregnancy tlic better. Instances have 
occuiTcd of abortion at thi-ce weeks from fright caused by a dog. 
