State Agricultural Society. 461 



with regular marking punch sold at the hardware shops. Among breed- 

 ers of fine sheep, there is a system of notches cut in the ear at the time 

 of castrating and docking, by which each sheep has a number marked 

 on him for life. Others use a metallic strip, with the number and own- 

 er's initials stamped on it; this is fastened on by punching a hole in the 

 ear, and inserting the strip, which is then flattened down like a rivet, 

 eyelet, or clinched nail. And, finally, the number, or letters, may be 

 stamped on the sheep with large wooden type, dipped in any pigment. 



With this ends the special work of the lambing season, which — as 

 meeting the average case of breeders in the central portion of Califor- 

 nia — I have supposed to commence in the month of January, and so 

 have selected, in pursuance of the plan upon which this series of papers 

 has been prepared, as January sheep work. 



Enough has been said to show that sheep are not to be expected to 

 "run themselves," or to show a satisfactory outturn when merely turned 

 out — however good the range. On whatever scale sheep breeding be 

 attempted, let it be gone into and attended to as a matter of business. 

 The owner must expect to give his sheep a share of his own time and 

 his own work. If this be done, he may look for a large return on the 

 capital. The money investment required for sheep is not large; its rate 

 of return depends mainly on the amount of brains that is invested 

 with it. 



HEEDING. 



"Herding" is the term applied to the work done by a shepherd in 

 daily tending a band of sheep. Any able-bodied man is capable of serv- 

 ing as a herder; but the occupation is one requiring great patience, and, 

 for this reason mainly, professional herders are generally found to be 

 men who have passed the heyday of life, or else are gifted with that 

 peculiar disposition that they can content themselves almost anywhere. 

 I am told that the Chinese, after being duly taught, .make unexception- 

 able herders. I have never tried them. The life of most shepherds on 

 an extensive sheep ranch can be compared to no other unless it be that 

 of a lighthouse keeper; for if he be a competent man, and his employer 

 have confidence in him, they may not see each other for months. If the 

 herder receives a visit at all, it may be only for a few hours, as the major- 

 domo or owner of the ranch calls to see how his provisions hold out, to 

 inspect and receive his report as to the condition of his band and range. 

 Theoretically, a herder has his time to read, but practically, his whole 

 stock in trade consists of a pair of blankets and a bundle. of clothes; 

 and, rain or shine, he is expected to be always with his sheep. For this 

 employment, if he be a good hand, he may get thirty dollars a month. 

 I have heretofore recommended assigning the best and most faithful 

 shepherd to the lamb flock. It would be well if all could be found faith- 

 ful, but this seldom happens, and on a large sheep ranch the owner must 

 have his major-domo to superintend everything, and then he can him- 

 self superintend his major domo. This man is to see that the shepherds 

 are up to their duty, and also advise or give them such orders as from 

 time to time become needful, as, if the range become eaten off, the sheep 

 are to be moved to new pasture, etc. 



THE OLD HERDER. 



On the plains, it is practicable for an old hand to manage almost any 



