The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-02-28
A SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP

as read the tenth chapter of the gospel
according to John was very much struck
with the truth contained in the parable
about the shepherd and his sheep. 1t
exactly comedies with my own experience.
My sheep know my voice. I know my
sheep and they know me from altar, and
they follow me. They need but get a
glimpse of me to salute me with friendly
s'bah!' Not SO with a stranger. Mine,
therefore, is not merely a speculative but
it is an operative sheep husbandry, and
know whereof l affirm. Allow me, then,
to make few remarks on two points
which are either not generally understood
or else are slurred over by writers on the
subject.
The first is in reference to water.
There are those even who say that sheep
do not drink water at ALL Others, who
are more enlightened on the subject,
maintain that they must have water, but
they speak in such a manner as to lead
people to think that after all it matters
little whether you provide the sheep with
water or not. For if they need so little.
end cen do so long without any at all, then
the puddles formed by the frequent show
ers of rain ought certainly to amply suffice
them. Such is the logic of only too many
who own sheep, but who do not know
them. My own experience is to the effect
that sheep need water, pure water at that,
and comparatively large amount of
it. 1t is reasonable to suppose that
they will need more in summer
than in winter. My special obser-
vations extend over the past two winter
months. Repeatedly l measured the wa
ter and found that my flock would drink
on an average two-fifths of gallon per
head at time Now take flock of saw
500 sheep, and at the same rate they will
empty tank containing 200 gallons of
water before leaving it. My flock being a
mixed one, it remains to be stated flock
consisting altogether of a large breed
would drink considerably more If there
are any doubling Thomases who have
large focks among my readers, let them
keep their sheep from water till about d
P. NJ, and then let them carry all the wa
ter their sheep will drink, and long ere
their task is completed their aching arms
will vindicaee my statement.
The other point in question is in refer,
ence to shelter, especially at night Sta
tistical reports of this county, and the same
remark holds good for pretty much fhe
whole United States, show that 10 per
cent. of the sheep are annually destroyed
by dogs. These depredations almost inva-
riably take place at night. A place of
shelter, securely fastened, would be an
unfailing preventive, and the wealth of
the country annually increase by Millions
of dollars. If the miserable ours can't
live without mutton, let them die dogs
death. We will never miss them. The
expense incurred in building such shell
ter will in many cases be more than coun-
terbalanced by the money saved in sim
gle year by thus preventing canine raw
ages. Such precaution will in addition
check other sneak thieves A good, dry
shelter is one of the best remedies for dis
ease in sheep, and no doubt likewise one
of the best preventives. But, we are told,
it takesItoo much trouble, and the expense
is too great to feed and shut them up ev-
cry night. l will leave the trouble for the
present and take up the expense. Having
all things properly arranged it need not
take more than ten minutes a day, or
about six working days year extra, thus
to attend to 100 sheep. Throughout the
South these six days would cost about 81,
rations and all, on an average. will not
subtract, as Justly might, the fact that
as with shelter, and more, too. Valuing
100 sheep at only 5000 and taking from
this amount 10 per cent. for dog feed, we
have an annual loss of $40 as against So
for labor employed, or SIS in favor of the
shelter. -...-...
Now as to trouble. Not whit of it.
My sheep are as anxious to go to their
shelter as soon as the sun approaches the
horizon as hungry boy is to get hold OF
piece of bread and butter. can't for
get them. They bah! bah! bah!" until l
make my appearance, when they all give
simultaneous "bahr' Before the door is
wide open in they bound. ] turn the key;
for one more night they are safe and
sound. Three days of gentle and judicious
treatment at first did it all. Several times
have read, "Sheep will sooner weather
the severst storm than enter gloomy and
dingy place" SO would 1. But this is not
my opinion of model sheep-shelter. Let it
be ever SO cheaply built if youlike, but let
it be spacious, neat and whitewashed in
side. Here give them their regular meals,
salt, Sc, and they will soon take to it with
as much delight as an ugly cur will take
to them if you leave them outside.
Ore Banks, Va. 7. G. S.