150 THE TREATMENT OF BORDER 



season. But the task which is to occupy him is a much more 

 difficult and responsible one than that which falls to the lot of 

 any other hired servant on the place. Not only has he to per- 

 form his usual routine of daily labour, but while sleep is refresh- 

 ing the tired ploughman, the shepherd can only snatch a very 

 few hours of repose, w^hich is frequently anything but rest. At 

 all hours and in every kind of weather he must be ready to 

 perform duties which are often the reverse of pleasant, and while 

 doing so he know^s that on his shoulders rests the whole charge 

 of the flock, and that to his care and skill the farmer trusts for 

 immunity from loss by death, and for a good return of lambs. 

 Taking these facts into consideration, the farmer should see that 

 everything possible be done to lessen the trouble and anxiety 

 which in most cases rests heavily on the shepherd at this 

 season. 



As there are always numerous cases in which it is required,. 

 milk should be supplied to the shepherd for his weak lambs, or 

 if he has a cow of his own he may supply it himself as needed, 

 putting down the amount daily used, that he may be allowed 

 for it by the farmer after ^ne lambing is over. 



Durin" last lambing season the followino; amount of milk was 

 used for the lambs of 16 score of half-bred ewes : — 163 pints 

 (imperial), costing, at l|d. per pint, £1, Os. 4M., which was paid 

 to the shepherd, as he supplied the milk from his own cow. 

 In the very severe lambing season of 1879, for the same flock 

 of ewes, 316 pints were used by the lambs, costing £1, 19s. 6d. 



The milk used in another flock of 18 score of Leicester ewe& 

 averages yearly about 200 pints. A large quantity of milk has 

 usually to be supplied to the twin lambs of gimmers, for their 

 mothers have frequently a very small supply, quite inadequate 

 to the purpose of bringing up a good pair of lambs. 



At this period of the year, just when the lambing season has 

 begun, the sheep marked to lamb the first and second week 

 should be separated from the rest and turned into the lambing 

 field, while the remainder of the ewes are left upon the lea or 

 rough pasture. About o o'clock, p.:\r. during the beginning of 

 the season, the herd should remove the ewes from the lambing 

 field and take them into the court of the lambing shed, the other 

 portion of the flock being left out all night upon the lea field. 

 After bringing the ewes quietly into the lambing court at night 

 they may be left, unless any ewe has commenced to lamb. In this 

 case it will be necessary for the herd to remain at least close at 

 hand, in order that, should his assistance be required, it may be 

 promptly rendered. If no ewe is lambing, however, he may 

 leave the flock, and after the first night or so they will make 

 themselves comfortable, and proceed to ruminate quietly. 



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