LEICESTER EWES AND LAMBS. 153 



pulling, this method being more according to nature than the 

 application of force when the struggles of the ewe -have ceased. 

 We have been told by an American farmer that in cases of this 

 sort, where there is little room and a large lamb, by rubbing 

 the sides of the vulva with belladonna, the parts become relaxed, 

 and deliverance is much facilitated. ISTot having tried this 

 method in practice, we cannot vouch for its efficacy. When the 

 lamb is extracted, it should at once be placed before the ewe that 

 she may lick it. If this be not done, and especially if she is a 

 gimmer or young ewe, she may get up and run off without 

 looking at her lamb at all. If the ewe does not begin to lick 

 the lamb at once, a leg may be drawn through her mouth, and 

 this will usually make her recognise her lamb. 



Before allowing the ewe to rise, the shepherd should ascertain 

 wiiether another lamb is present by carefully manipulating the 

 belly with his fingers, and if there is not another, he should take 

 the opportunity of ridding the udder of any wool wdiich would 

 hinder the lamb from sucking. If the weather is fine, there is 

 no necessity to take the mother and lamb into a shelter ; but 

 should the weather be inclement, they should be at once driven 

 quietly to the hospital, wdiich has been described in treating of 

 shelter. If the lamb or lambs be weakly, the shepherd should 

 turn the ewe and suckle them, and after they have had one good 

 drink, with sufficient shelter and warmth no danoer need be 

 feared. It is easy to know a weak from a strong lamb w^hen 

 born. A pink nose and white skin usually accompany a weak, 

 and a black nose and yellow skin at birth a hardy, constitution. 

 When the ewe and her offspring are placed in the hospital, a 

 few turnips should be given her in a box in one corner of her 

 pen, while those ewes which lamb on the pasture and have 

 hardy lambs should receive nothing more than the ordinary 

 keep. 



Many ewes require no assistance whatever in lambing, and we 

 have frequently seen twins dropped wliich were upon their feet 

 and sucking in no more than ten minutes from birth. Where 

 sixteen or eighteen score of ewes are kept, two lambers must be 

 or are usually employed. If there is only one herd kept on the 

 farm, an assistant should be hired to help him during the lambiug 

 season ; for not only has he to attend to his ewes, but has the 

 feeding of hoggs to attend to also, and at this time of year, when 

 they are on turnips and getting cake and corn, he has a consider- 

 able amount of work on hand. He has not only to supply them 

 with their cake and corn, but new portions or " breaks " of 

 turnips have to be netted off', and hay must be " bottled " or 

 bunched for them and carried out. 



The shepherd, we consider, is the best judge of a suitable 

 assistant for the lambing season ; lie is usually hired by the 



