On  Winter  Feeding  of  Sheep. 
01 
adjoining  open  shed,  where  it  will  dry  readily;  and  either  to  lay 
it  on  the  land  just  before  the  last  ploughing  for  the  barley  crop, 
or  to  drill  it  in  with  the  turnip-seed.  It  may  be  a further  question, 
whether,  particularly  on  the  stronger  lands,  the  young  growing 
store-sheep  should  be  kept  in  the  field  or  in  the  homestead  at 
certain  periods,  with  open  sheds  and  yards  to  run  in;  but  with 
regard  to  winter -fattening  of  sheep,  if  it  is  to  be  done  at  all  as  a 
mode  of  profitable  consumption  of  turnips,  I incline  to  the  opinion 
that  the  shed-feeding  system  under  certain,  and  not  uncommon, 
circumstances  is  likely  to  be  more  extensively  practised  as  the 
right  system.  I find  that  after  the  severe  weather  sets  in,  the 
butchers  are  glad  enough  to  come  in  search  of  house-fed  sheep, 
not  being  able  then  to  find  in  one’s  neighbours’  fields  as  many 
sheep  fit  for  their  selection  as  they  require.  1 think  the  following 
mode  of  constructing  a shed  will  answer  two  useful  purposes  at 
no  great  expense ; adapting  it  for  fattening  out  in  the  early  part 
of  winter,  in  one  lot,  a number  of  sheep,  and  then  serving  as  a 
permanent  lambing-shed.  To  be  constructed,  say,  of  larch  up- 
rights, sawn  down  the  middle  with  the  bark  outwards,  or,  if 
peeled,  to  have  a coating  of  vegetable  tar  or  rough  paint,  with  a 
span  roof,  thatched  or  space-slated,  thus  increasing  ventilation 
and  saving  one-third  in  the  quantity  of  slates,  and  reducing 
proportionably  the  weight  upon  and  necessary  strength  of  the 
roofing;  a height  of  4 feet  to  th  e plate  will  suffice;  a paved  walk 
down  the  middle  of  the  shed,  the  troughs  being  placed  on  either 
side,  and  next  to  the  passage,  for  convenience  in  feeding  and 
cleaning ; each  side  to  be  divided  into  pens  with  poles  or  rough 
lencing ; the  gates  by  which  the  sheep  enter  the  pens  being  so 
arranged,  that,  when  the  shed  is  required  for  lambing,  the  whole 
width  shall  be  available  by  the  gates  folding  across  the  pathway 
(in  the  manner  railway  gates  are  fitted  across  a line),  and  the 
south  side  or  elevation  of  the  shed  (if  not  both  sides)  being 
litted  so  that  the  wood-work  can  be  folded  back,  or  be  lifted  up, 
for  the  general  convenience  of  the  shepherd,  and  the  admission  of 
the  sun  and  air,  and  for  the  more  easy  emptying  it  of  the  manure  ; 
the  several  partitions  of  the  shed  being  further  subdivided  by  the 
shepherd  for  his  ewes  and  lambs,  as  he  may  desire,  with  hurdles. 
The  sheep  to  be  upon  gratings,  made  with  oak  frames  and  deal 
tops  | of  an  inch  between  the  bars,  requiring  no  litter  excepting 
for  lambing;  beneath  the  gratings,  which  should  be  supported  on 
either  side, — without  cross  supports,  which  are  inconvenient  in 
emptying  the  pit, — should  be  a tank  or  pit  in  brick-work,  or 
rammed  with  marl,  not  less  than  2^  to  3 feet  deep,  so  as  to  contain 
all  the  manure  dropped  by  one  lot  of  fatting  sheep,  thus  avoiding 
the  necessity  of  disturbing  the  animals  for  the  removal  of  the 
manure.  If  a little  gypsum  is  thrown  over  the  gratings,  and  ven- 
