THE BLACKFACED BREED OF SHEEP. 219 



crushed oats, cake, &c. Flocks kept on hill farms during 

 winter require the close attendance of shepherds, particularly 

 during stormy weather. Despite the vigilance of the most 

 trustworthy shepherd, the sheep — having a tendency to crouch 

 in sheltered places, where snow when drifting is sure to 

 accumulate — frequently become embedded in wreaths of snow. 

 Heavy losses are sustained in this manner. One of the most 

 striking characteristics of the black faced sheep is its endurance 

 amongst snow. I have seen cases, during my experience of 

 liill-farming, of sheep being buried under a wreath for six or 

 seven consecutive weeks, and coming out alive after a thaw. 

 Frequently, however, after being subjected to such prolonged 

 confinsment, they succumb to the elements after being set at 

 liberty. The pasture on hill farms generally gets scant during 

 the winter season, and it is found necesary to supplement the 

 food which flocks gather on the hills by hay, straw, turnips, 

 &c. When farmers send their sheep to be wintered in the low 

 country, they are always careful to place them under the charge 

 of trustworthy and faithful shepherds. For successful sheep 

 farming a careful shepherd is the all-important functionary. 



In his description of the qualifications of a mountain 

 shepherd, Mr Little says — '•' The shepherd should be honest, 

 active, careful, and, above all, calm-tempered. A shepherd who 

 at any time gets into a passion with his sheep, not only occa- 

 sionally injures them, but acts at great disadvantage both in 

 herding them and working among them. A good-tempered man 

 and a close-mouthed dog will effect the desired object with half 

 the time and trouble that it gives to the hasty passionate man. 

 The qualifications of a shepherd is not to train his dog to run- 

 ning and hounding, bat to direct the sheep, according to the 

 nature of the soil and climate, and the situation of the farm, in 

 Huch a manner as to obtain the greatest quantity of safe and 

 nutritious food at all seasons of the year. Those shepherds who 

 dog and force tlieir Hocks, I take to be bad herdsmen for their 

 masters and bad herdsmen for the neighbouring farmers." 

 These remarks are to the point in every sense of tlic word, and 

 cannot be too frequently impressed upon the minds of both 

 shepherds and masters. At all seasons, interested shepherds 

 can, by care and judgment, do a great deal in improving the 

 condition of Hocks. 



Most farmers take a quantity of turnips along with lowland 

 pasture during the winter, and when the supply of grass falls 

 short in the first of spring, the sheep are usually netted on the 

 turnips. This is found to encourage the growth and muscular 

 development of young stock. Kwes in lamb are sometimes 

 also allowed a supply of turnips, but if they can be brought 

 throutrh without it there is less danger of mortality at the 



