181i Report of Farmers' Institutes 



is particularly objectionable as the fiber gets into the wool and can- 

 not be separated. It is always better to shear before the sheep go 

 to pasture. They can be protected in the barn mnch better than 

 in the open. The soft grass will loosen their bowels and much 

 wool around the hind parts will be soiled and made worthless. 



WINTER LAMBS 



The name " hot-house " lamb is misleading. Such lambs are 

 produced in ordinary barns with the care suggested above. I have 

 had a half dozen born during a mid-winter day when the mercury 

 stood at zero and everyone was up and nursing within a half hour 

 without assistance. In this barn water freezes on cold nights. 



For those who have limited pasture areas, this branch of sheep 

 husbandry will be found very profitable. It is difficult to get sheep 

 to breed in warm weather ; hence, the suppl}' will not be large. 

 One is catering to a trade not likely to be affected by hard limes. 

 The winter lamb at from $6 to $15 per carcass, fifty pounds live 

 weight, is a luxury afforded only by the well-to-do, and the demand 

 for them is increasing. Formerly Xew York 'City was the only 

 good market ; now all the large cities find sale for them. The lead- 

 ing hotels in our capital city of Albany serve them regularly on 

 their tables. The average man thinks raising them a difficult job 

 and is afraid of a little extra feeding. For all these reasons the 

 business is not likely to be overdone and hence is profitable. 

 First, one must have sheep that will breed early. Those best 

 suited for this purpose have been emphasized. Lambs fit to go to 

 market after the holidays may sell from $10 to $15 ; after this the 

 price drops to $5 or $(5 in ^lay. It costs no more to grow the early 

 ones, if the sheep will breed. This means mating in July or Au- 

 gust. Grain feeding the ewes prior to this time will be of advan- 

 tage; then observation of the details mentioned under " feed and 

 care " are necessarv. There is nothino- that will grow a lamb so 

 fast as its mother's milk. Whatever one would feed to a cow to 

 make her produce will serve the same purpose with a sheep. After 

 the lambs are a couple of weeks old they will eat grain by them- 

 selves from a box to which they can have access away from the 

 ewes. A little brown sugar at this time will be relished and at five 



