Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-02-28
CIR garmsr.
Sheep Raising in Spain.

Node cf Gsvtag Salt to the Sheep.
The first thing the shepherd does
when bis flock returns from the South
to their Summer downs or pastures,
Is to give them as much salt as they
VIII eat. Every owner allows to each
tribe of one thousand sheep twenty
five quintals Of salt, $500 pounds)
which they consume in about five
months. They eat none in their
journeys, nor are they allowed any
in winter, for it is prevailing opinion
that it produces abortion when given
TO ewes forward with young. This
has ever been the custom, aud is
thought to be the true reason why tie
kings of Spain could never raise the
Price of salt to the height it has main
tained in most parts of France; for it
would tempt the shepherd to stint
the sheep, which, it is believed, would
weaken their constitutions and dete-
riorate their wool. The shepherd pla-
ces fifty or sixty flat stones at the
distance of about five PAGES apart,
strews salt upon each, leads the sheep
slowly among them, and every one is
allowed to eat Of it at pleasure. But
when they are feeding on limestone
land, whether it be on the grass OF
the downs, or on the little plants OF
the cornfelds after harvest-home, they
eat no salt; and if they meet with a
spot of mixed formation, they are
said to partake of it in proportion as
the soil is mingled with clay. The
shepherd, being aware that his sheep
will suffer if deprived Of salt, leads
them to a elayey soil, and in quar-
ter of an hours feeding, they march
to the stones and devour whatever
they need.
Cdution in ANowing the Sheep Il
ImJiJe Frost or Snow.-One Of the
shepherds chief cares is not to suffer
bis sheep to imbibe, in the morning
the frozen dew or melted frost, and
never to approach pond or stream al
ter shower of hail; for, If they should
eat the dewy grass, or drink the melt
ed hail, the whole tribe, it is believed
would become depressed in spirits
lose their appetites, pine away, ane
die, as often has happened. Hail wa
ter is also so pernicious to man, in tha
climate, that the people have learned
by experience, not to drink from
rivulet or stream until some time afte.
violent storm Of hail.
TIE ,Mepherds---The salary o
the chief shepherd does not exceed
two hundred dollars year and
horse; that of the first unde'
shepherd of tribe of ten dollars
year; the second, seven dollars; thu
third, five; the fourth, three; and tht
fifth, a boy, two dollars year. Th'
ration of each is two pounds of breat
: day, with the privilege of keeping
"a few goats in the flock for their milk
They are also entitled to skins ant
carcasses of the culled sheep an(
lambs, and each receives from the
chief Shepherd "regalito" of three
fourths of a dollar in April and Dc
tober, and these are all the sweets thar
these poor wretches enjoy, with tht
exception of about a month in
year, which each takes bis turn, t.
visit his family or friends. They
are exposed the rest of the time t.
all the vicissitudes of the weather
and at night have to lie in miserable
huts formed Of stakes, brambles Oh
branches Of trees, and often sleep a;
they term it, de a5ar les estrealias--
under the stars.
WEAVING CoETs.-When colts are
taken from the dam for the purpose
of weaving, they should be placed in
dark stables, or such, at least, as have
no light where they can reach to look
ont at-fha DARKER thew ara. the bet