COMMUNICATIONS. 91 



cester Ewes bred to the Cotswold Buck), tlie head showed pure 

 Leicester. One of these Ewe Lambs at fiftj-seven days old, 

 weighed sixty-four and three-fourth pounds. 



Your next question relates to the number of Sheep kept, etc., 

 etc. Last year I wintered 1 13, of the following breeds : 1 Cots- 

 wold, 6 Leicesters, 4 Downs, a few grade Merinos, and the 

 balance natives. The average weight of fleece — Cotswolds as 

 before stated ; Leicester, 5 lbs.; Downs, 5 lbs.; the balance 4 

 lbs. each, the finer fleeces being the lightest ; one from a Saxon 

 Ewe weighing only 2 lbs., while several native yearlings went 

 over 5 lbs. each. I know not the value of the avooI this year, 

 as I have not sold any, excepting a few of the coarsest fleeces 

 to neighbors, who required a long^ strong staple for domestic use, 

 for which I received thirty cents per pound. The clip of 1853 

 I sold at 42 1-2 cents per lb., when the finest qualities were re- 

 alizing 50 cents. I do not allow my Ewes to breed until they 

 are two years old. Last season, in proportion to the Ewes, I 

 raised 120 per cent, of Lambs, losing one Lamb, and that be- 

 longing to a fine wooled Ewe. As regards the price received 

 from butchers: Sold 21 Wethers in the winter at $5 per head, 

 and 10 after shearing, chiefly yearlings, at $3,50 each, and a few 

 native Lambs at $2 each. The half-bred Lambs I have not 

 oftered to the butcher at present. As to the best and cheapest 

 method of wintering Sheep, my plan is — to commence about 

 the middle of August by weaning the Lambs, which I then 

 place on the best pasture I have, generally the after crop of 

 clover, and remove the Ewes to the poorest pastm-e on the farm 

 until their milk is dried, when I give them also the best pasture 

 I can afford, to recruit flesh before winter. About the 1st of 

 November I commence feeding the Lambs, at the rate of 4 

 sheaves of oats to a hundred, per day, whether the pasture be 

 good or not. Through the winter, feed the whole flock, at the 

 same rate, in the morning, when, being hungry, they will eat 

 nearly all the straw; immediately after which, feed hay, and 

 hay in the evening, without grain. Have good warm sheds for 

 all. Feed the Ewes from racks placed under cover, and provide 

 water for them in a. trough in the yard. Feed the Lambs from 



