170 TllEATMENT OF BORDER LEICESTER EWES AND LAMBS. 



of. It appears sometimes at birth, the little creatures trembling 

 and occasionally having spasms. Frequently it is postponed 

 until the lamb's strength is tried by weaning, and especially if, 

 at this critical period, they are placed upon rough, hard pasture, 

 are overcrowded, or follow closely other sheep which have 

 stained the grass and rendered it unpalatable. Occurring in 

 wet seasons, and on wet pasture, it is sometimes traced to 

 ergoted grasses, and perhaps to mouldy fodder, the former of 

 which has the peculiar property of contracting capillary blood- 

 vessels and thus causing wasting, and even mortification, of the 

 parts to which they are distributed. Sometimes the complaint 

 appears like an enzootic, attacking considerable numbers of 

 sheep in the same district. It is nearly allied to the nervous 

 disorder known as " louping-ill." Concentrated nutritive food, 

 occasional salines, and salts of alum, constitute the approved 

 treatment. Prevention is effected by careful management of the 

 ewe flock, alike during gestation and lactation, and by furnish- 

 ing at all times, both to ew^es and lambs, good food and water. 



Having brought our eve flock up to that point at which we 

 began to describe their treatment, it is only necessary to say a 

 few ^vords in conclusion. 



However simple treatment of ewes may appear on paper, more 

 will be learned by one season's practice than by volumes of 

 writing, and we strongly advise every intending breeder to com- 

 bine science w^ith practice. The experience has no doubt to be 

 gained at the expense of a great deal of work which is by no 

 means pleasant, but, when once gone through, the knowledge 

 gained will more than repay the learner. 



The best mode of gaining proficiency in the thorough know- 

 ledge of ewes and their treatment is for the young farmer to 

 board with some shepherd who has a large flock of sheep to 

 tend. Let him not fear to face the rough mode of living, the 

 cold stormy nights, and the unpleasant tasks which he will be 

 called upon to perform, for, by taking part in every detail, he 

 wdll in a short time be master of the routine usually followed, 

 and in after life will prove that " it is less painful to learn in 

 youth than to be ignorant in age." 



EXPERIMENT OX THE CULTIVATION OF CABBAGE. 

 By Peter Kilpatrick, Durley Manor, Bishop's Waltliam, Hants. 



[Premium — Ten Sovereigns.'] 



Situation of the Fidel. — The field selected for this experiment 

 is situated in the parish of Darley, Derbyshire. It contains over 

 six acres, the soil is of medium tenacity, lying on a sandstone 



