374 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



three weeks previously, while maintaining them upon grass 

 only during the greater part of the year. Some flocks, however, 

 received a limited quantity of additional food (turnips, etc.) during 

 pregnancy, and especially during the latter part. The statistics 

 show that in the flocks which were treated in" this way the 

 percentage of lambs per ewes 1 was considerably in excess of 

 the average percentage for flocks which received no special 

 treatment, while the percentage of barren ewes was generally 

 appreciably less. In some cases the number of lambs per ewes 1 

 in the flushed flocks was nearly 200 per cent. Among flocks of 

 the same breeds (Border Leicester or half-bred Border Leicester) 

 which received no sort of special treatment, the average pro- 

 portion of lambs per ewes 1 was between 150 and 160 per cent., 

 while flocks which were placed upon superior pasture at the 

 approach of the breeding season (without being otherwise 

 specially fed) generally produced a slightly larger percentage of 

 lambs (about 160 per cent.). 



It may be of some interest to describe more precisely the 

 method of treatment adopted for certain of the flushed flocks in 

 which a relatively large number of twin lambs were produced. 



In one of these the ewes (which were half-bred Border 

 Leicester by Cheviot) were fed upon grass only during the 

 summer previous to tupping. For three weeks (during tupping, 

 beginning of October) they were allowed a full supply of turnips 

 upon grass. Between tupping and lambing (five months) they 

 were given a mixture of dried grains and turnips, and lamb 

 food for three weeks before lambing. The rams (which belonged 

 to the pure Border Leicester breed) were fed upon bruised oats 

 during tupping. The percentage of lambs per ewes 1 was 191 '5. 

 One ewe had four lambs and 12*5 per cent, had triplets. None 

 of the ewes were barren and none aborted. 



In a second experiment the ewes (which were also half- 

 bred), after being kept upon grass during the summer, were 

 supplied with Bombay cake, bruised barley, and a little linseed, 

 as well as turnips and cabbages during the tupping season. 

 Some turnips were given during pregnancy. The rams (Border 

 Leicester and Oxford Down) were treated in the same way. 

 The percentage of lambs per ewes 1 was 19375. None of the 

 ewes aborted and none were barren. Triplets were produced 

 in 13*5 per cent, of the ewes. 



1 That is to say, the number of lambs per 100 ewes. 



