The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-22

necessities for sheep at any sea on of
the year. Ii will not do TO overcro Hd
sheep in a close stable. This immediate
ly makes mischief, first by causing dis
ease of the skin, by which the wool is
loosened, and the lungs become disolde
by reason of the great change of tempera-
ture between day and night.
In the feeding of sheep, regularity is
mosts important. The restless habit form
ed during years past has done uncounta-
BILE injury to our agricultural interests. 1t
has not sacrificed flocks of valuable sheep
but it has demoralized the. people, until
many feel like old John Randolph, who
once declared he would go ten miles TO
kick a sheep.
Sheep are naturally herbivorous. and
mischief is frequently done by overcrowd-
ing them with grain, when their digestive
apparatus is suitable only for herbaceous
fodder. Grain-eatng animals do not need
a large stomach, nor a series of them, for
the gradual reduction of the hard and
concentrated food TO soluble pulp. Doubt
less the majority of sheep lost during the
winter feeding season die on account of
a misunderstanding of this natural con-
dtion and requirement. Bulky food is es-
sential to a herbiVorous and Eliminating
animal
1t is rarely considered that water is far
more important a matter for considera-
ton in the winter than it is in the sum-
mer. Sheep that are feeding on dry food
are deprived of three times the weight of
1t which they get when on pasture. Ten
pounds of green grass has eight pounds
of water in it, while as many pounds of
hay has but one pound of water in it. If,
then, sheep on pasture VIII drink which
they will do frequently in the summer,
how much more is it necessary that wa
ter should be supplied sufficiently in the
winter. ~
The times between seasons are the most
exacting for the safety of the flock. Sheep
well summered are half winteTed. For
any want of condition just now is rarely
ever repaired but brings disaster. Good
care even now may repair some mistakes
if time is not lost. The flock should be
carefully examined and sorted out into
gangs, as the conditions may vary. Then
the treatment should be judiciously va
! ried as circumstances may require Some
of the ewes will need careful nursing, and
| for this suitable building should be pro
| 1t will be an excellent thing 10 provide
! a good supply of what We call the tonic
| mixture.
Sheep are not robust animals On the
! contrary they need every possible atteu-
| ton and conformity with their habits and
constitution This is most applicable 70
their feeding. They are naturally adapted
as TO their teeth and digestive organs, TO
| short, fine food To Craze on short herb
! age and to clip the tender shoots of
| bushes is their vocation. Hence the
''roughness" of a farm is not desirable or
even suitable for them. 1t will not do to
| throw bunch of stalks of corn TO sheep,
as it may do for cattle or horses. The
! blades of corn, even, are too rough fod-
! der for Them. The best possible dry feed
! ing of sheep is early cut tender clover
hay, with the addition of sliced roots.
This is the best possible dry. coarse feed
| ing for the winter. Ewes may be kept in
the best condition on this feed without
grain.