490 Agricidtural Gazette of N.S.W. [June 2, 1908. 



If the rams will not work when first run with the ewes the difiiculty is 

 usually soon removed by yarding them at night for a week or so. 



It is best to sell lambs before the grass seed is ripe enough to shed, as they 

 rapidly lose condition if affected by it. Should it for any reason be considered 

 desirable to hold them over, the risk is greatly lessened by shearing them 

 or by running them with their dams on land as free as possible from objec- 

 tionable grasses. 



Where rape or other cultivated pasture is provided for sh'-ep the risk is 

 removed. • 



As lambs are in their most saleable condition while receiving the benefit 

 of their mother's milk, they should not be weaned before the time of sale, 

 the effect of weaning being a loss of weight and tho roundness and freshness 

 of carcass, which are essential features. 



The ewes which have given the most satisfactory results as dams are the 

 first-cross Lincoln-Merino. They are roomy, and. therefore, the risk of loss 

 at lambing time is far less than is the case with the pure merino. They 

 may also be bred from at an earlier age than is advisable with the merino. 



Two-loolhs by Shropshire Ram l:om Liiuoln-Merino Ewes. 



Comparisons of risks \n lambing have been carefully made and the results 

 have shown that whilst the percentage of first-cross ewes assisted reached 

 no higher than 4^, it was necessary to give help to 28 per cent, of large- 

 framed merino ewes when lambing to rams of British breeds in a good 

 season. 



They are less nervous than the merino ewes, which is a great advantage, 

 as when clearing stubbles or feeding off cultivated pastures the cross-breds 

 will work close to the fences without taking alaini at passers by, thus avoiding 

 much trampling of crops and running about to the detriment of themselves 

 and their lambs. 



Trials are now being made of ewes by Border-Leicester rams from merino 

 ewes, the bleed being of good si.ze and attractive appearance. 



In selecting rams for breeding cross-bred lambs for market, care should 

 be taken to obtain only such as are pure-bred, as loss of time and disappoint- 

 ment will certainly follow the use of grade sires. 



