152 



The Country Gentleman's Magazine 



— viz., on light soil, and, if not, upon poor land after 

 say oats or barley, the latter I prefer. In this case the 

 fold should not be too large and the flock removed once 

 a day. 



April.— My notes for the foregoing month with 

 respect to ewes apply also to this. In case of twins 

 where one lamb is stronger than the other, muzzle 

 it at short intervals, so that the weaker one may have 

 its share of milk and consequently become a match 

 for his fellow. In fine weather dock, castrate, and 

 flock-mark the lambs at from three to six days old, 

 house for a couple of nights, apply paint on the necks 

 of the l7vin lambs as a safeguard from foxes, and tui'n 

 away the ewes with singles into an ordinary pasture, 

 but those with pairs should have a good pasture, or in 

 addition to a middling one be allowed mangolds, a 

 little com or cake mixed with chaff, maltculms, &c. 

 During this month a great saving in wool is effected by 

 keeping the ewes free from doddings, which the young 

 grass necessarily occasions. Mangolds often form part 

 of the food of the sheep during this month, and they 

 may be given with impunity to ewes, but not so with 

 males, for when given ad libitum they cause an accumu- 

 lation of sandy matter in the region of the bladder, 

 which, if not quickly remedied, soon teniiinates in 

 death. 



Alay. — Ewes with twins should have cake so that 

 the lambs may acquire a taste for it, and when they 

 begin to eat it freely, it should be given in an enclosure 

 into which the lambs only have ingi'ess. In this month 

 summering or pasturing may be said to commence, and 

 I will here urge the necessity of frequent change of 

 pasturage, and where the flock or a portion of it occu- 

 pies but one field of clover, &c., it ought to be 

 divided so as to admit of change so natural and 

 beneficial to animals of the sheep kind in which change 

 appears to be an innate principle. Water, too, especi- 

 ally to ewes giving suck is indisiDensable. Rock-salt 

 ought to be placed within reach of sheep all the year 

 round, as it tends to keep them healthy. Too much 

 cannot be said against early clipping, the disadvan- 

 tages are so great and the advantages so small, especi- 

 ally in this cold climate. Why should we be the first 

 to divest our sheep of their clothing when it has been 

 proved that a sheep will, when shorn in cold weather, 

 loose several pounds of flesh per week, and by this 

 injudicious practice ewes giving suck are almost de- 

 prived of milk ? I presume that such folly is kept up 

 because in this district is held the first wool fair of the 

 season. 



Jttnc. — The flock throughout should now be dipped, 

 to secure the destraction of vermin on the skin, whilst 

 the wool is short ; amongst the numerous composition 

 sused for this purpose, I have found the glycerine to 

 answer best. About the end of this month lambs 

 may be weaned, when a better pasture can be afforded 

 them, and they rest and fare better than with their 

 dams. Cast ewes are now put on good pasturage, 

 with cake, &c., and forced as quickly as possible, so 

 that when ripe they can be mixed off with a parcel of 



young sheep, and consequently fetch a higher price 

 than -when sold as ewes in one bargain. Stock ewes 

 from this to the beginning of October should perform 

 the office of field scavengers, by cleaning up all over- 

 eaten pastures, paring down any rough swards, &c. ; 

 sliould be laid rank on the ground, and cost very little 

 in keep. 



July. — In woody districts flies are now very trouble- 

 some, and their constant teasings interfere much with 

 the quietude and well-being of the sheep. The flock, 

 therefore, during this and the rest of the summer 

 months should occasionally be closely packed in a pen, 

 and have a sprinkling of a mixture of spirits of tar and 

 sulphur from a garden watering-can, and their heads 

 dressed with a similar mixture of thicker consis- 

 tency, which is less heating, and, therefore, preferable 

 to caps. These applications will ward off the flies, 

 and contribute materially to the animals' comfort, and 

 leave them to graze in peace. During this and the 

 fono\\-ing month lambs require the especial vigilance 

 not only of the shepherd but of his master, for it 

 is a difficult matter, in the absence of a second crop 

 of clover, or some such luxurious herbage, to keep 

 them progressing and healthy up to the time of 

 placing them on turnips, and too much attention cannot 

 be paid to the pasturage, change of food, &c., for a 

 few days on an over-gi'ossy old seed or pasture field 

 may cause scouring, and otherwise so derange their 

 weak and sensitive stomachs that months may elapse 

 ere they again begin to thrive, and even serious losses 

 from death have too frequently resulted from this and 

 kindred causes. 



August. — Stock ewes should now be upon inferior 

 pastures, and cost as little as possible. As pastures, 

 whether permanent grass or clover, now deteriorate 

 in quality feeding sheep should have a little extra 

 artificial food, and also frequent change of pasturage. 

 Lambs ought now to be placed on clover or grass 

 aftermath. During the busy season of harvest the 

 flock too frequently is neglected, and should therefore 

 be dipped just prior to the commencement, in order 

 that there may be less risk from maggotting and loss of 

 condition from fly-teasing. 



September. — Feeding .sheep and lambs should now 

 be put on turnips, some of an early sort having been 

 proved for them. It is customary, and strongly 

 advocated by many flockmasters, that roots should be 

 cut from the first day. Now, after frequent tests, I 

 have found that on white or other soft sorts, it is as 

 well to let them gnaw the turnips, for in this way they 

 sooner acquire a realish for that which they at first have 

 a decided dislike to. 



October. — So that lambs are not dropped before 

 there is a promise of grass — say the third week in 

 jNIarch, the ewes ought to receive the ram about the 

 third week in October, a fortnight both prior to and 

 after which they should be allowed a liberal supply 

 of rape, mustard, or roots, so that they may be in an 

 improving condition, which will ensure a heavy crop 

 of lambs, and I think this is further secured by 



