449               THE WISCONSIN FARMER.

into the groove which is seen near the post  These racks, constructed as
above, may be
The rack, when filled, lies pressing on the made portable, and so put under
the sheds
hay, thus preventing more hay being pulled during the summer. In this way
they will
out than is eaten. From the position of the last many  years, and  pay  for
 them-
feed to sheep when eating, there is no drop- selves many times over in the
saving of
ping of seed and dirt into the wool and eyes, feed.



  Nor does the question of eco-
nomical feeding simply involve
a consideration of the amount of
feed saved.  The health of the
stock is not less important, and
this also is involved. For noth-
ing can be plainer to the farmer
who takes the least pains to ob-
serve the habits and require-
ments of his domestic animals,
than that they constitutionally
demand that their food shall be
clean and otherwise in good con-
dition. The hog is the only ex-
ception, and we are not quite sure
that he, too, is not better pleased
to eat clean food in a clean place.
  It is, no doubt, true that a cow
or a horse will eat muddy hay, or
poor straw, or even pull either of
these out of the mud rather than
starve.  Indeed, we have seen
poor creatures, driven to the very
verge of desperation, picking
straw out of a dung heap with
apparent relish.  But such ex-
treme cases are nothing, in evi-
dence against the proposition
that those same animals would
very much have preferred good
sweet hay, nicely put up in clean,
dry racks, and that they would



which is the case with racks inclined the | have been in better plight had
they been thus
other way. The rack is to be hoisted to the treated.
upper pin or notch when the long hay has    We are satisfied that here is
a matter to
been eaten; then the trough affords an oppor- which altogether too little
attention is paid
tunity for the sheep to eat the seeds and the by the majority of farmers.
 We could not,
fine hay. The trough is also a good place in ourselves, hope to maintain
our own good
which to feed grain or salt                 feeling, comfort and health if
daily compelled



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