State Agricultural Society. 459 



piecemeal'; also of performing the Caesarian operation, and of other 

 surgical performances. I have never attempted anything of the kind, 

 and believe that the operations described above are all that the ordinary 

 sheep breeder need expect to attempt. 



THE LAMB FLOCK. 



The first day both ewe and lamb want perfect quiet. They are to 

 stay in their own corral, and on the following day to be moved off, in 

 C large of the most trusty shepherd, on to their own range — near at 

 hand, but out of sight and hearing of the main flock. This lamb flock 

 is to have a separate corral to sleep in. Each day the new lambs with 

 their mothers are to be driven into the lamb flock; that is, on the third 

 da} 7 , the second day's lambs are to be added; on the fourth day, the 

 third day's lambs; and so on. 



The lamb flock wants constant watching and care, and twin lambs 

 especially need help much longer than many would be apt to suppose. 

 When the mothers have come to know them beyond peradventure, the 

 rags or strings that have been put on them as marks may be removed. 

 Sometimes a lamb will lie down to sleep, and its mother feed off with 

 the flock some distance — more particularly if it be a twin, and the other 

 lamb move away with the ewe. When the lamb wakes it is as apt to 

 wander one way as another. And as for driving it, the plan has been 

 recommended of getting between it and the flock, when it may chance 

 to charge in the right direction — betwixt one's legs. It is best to catch 

 the lamb napping, take it near the flock and lay it on its side, holding it 

 down with your foot or a stick. It will shortly bleat — or you may play 

 lamb and bleat yourself; some of the ewes will be attracted, and answer; 

 as soon as any of them start toward you — no matter whether it be the 

 lamb's mother — release the lamb and run off; for as soon as he collects 

 himself he will make for the object nearest him. 



A sharp lookout must be had for squirrel holes, or any rocky places. 

 Little lambs are quite helpless, should they fall on their backs or even 

 go headforemost into such places. After the first few days they play 

 and run a great deal, and any rocky ridge or the bank of a ditch appears 

 to possess peculiar attractions for them. 



About this time some of the lambs will become clogged up, by excre- 

 ment adhering to the tail and the wool around the breech. This "wax" 

 (as it is termed) is to be removed, and the place rubbed with powdered 

 chalk. Dry earth is perhaps quite as good for this purpose, and its 

 peculiar quality as a deodorizer may render it better. Some sheep men 

 dock the tail then and there, but it looks ugly, and should be left till the 

 time of castration. 



CASTRATING. 



Have a small pen, in which to put the lambs by themselves. If the 

 lambing pens have been made of movable fence-panels no other prepara- 

 tion will be needful; otherwise such a pen must be prepared — its fence 

 not more than four feet high. Select good, mild weather. The person 

 castrating stands on the outside; the assistants get inside to catch and 

 hold the lambs for the operation. The lamb is to be held up, with his 

 back against the assistant's breast, who holds its right fore and hind legs 

 with his right hand, and its left fore and hind legs with his left hand. 

 By a slight pressure, or pulling the lamb gently toward him, the effort 

 made by the lamb to contract the spermatic cord is overcome. Now 



