No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 469 



of our own, We have been disposing of our lambs when less Ibau 

 three months of age. Last week I marketed lambs, the age of 

 which were two months and ten days. We have found in our ex- 

 perience that the quicker we can get them ready for market the 

 better. 



If, however, we wish to raise regular hot-house lambs and dispose 

 of them in February and March, the method of management and 

 feeding would be practically the same, but we must then look out 

 for a special market for them. And the demand is for a lighter 

 weight, say 40 lbs. average. But during that season of the year 

 good, fleshy lambs can be sold in our large cities at extravagant 

 prices. 



The care of the ewes during the time they are raising their lambs 

 is all important. They should not only have such food as will pro- 

 duce a good flow of milk, but the strength and vigor of the ew^es 

 should be considered as well; and they should have enough of car- 

 bouacious food to aid in this direction. A ration composed of 

 corn, oats and bran, equal parts by measure, we have found very 

 satisfactory. For roughage we prefer nicely cured clover, provided 

 it is fine in the stem. Sheep do not like coarse hay of any kind, 

 and for this reason mammoth clover is not a desirable feed. But 

 clover and timothy may be made a desirable feed if cut when green. 

 In fact we have many times been able to produce better sheep hay 

 from clover and timothy than from clover alone, because the two 

 together grew more thickly and finer than the clover alone, but 

 too many destroy its good qualities by allowing it to become too 

 ripe and by overdrying. Previous to the lambing season, corn 

 stover is a good feed, to be fed during the day, provided the weather, 

 and the ground is suitable to feed it on a sod. But we have not had 

 very satisfactory results from feeding cut fodder in the mangers; 

 and to feed whole fodder in the sheds is not worthy of considera- 

 tion. Further, by feeding it on a sod has the advantage of giving 

 ■ exercise to the ewes which is very desirable during pregnancy. In 

 fact, in our practice we keep the ewes confined as little as possible 

 up to the lambing season, after which they are housed very closely. 

 They should have succulent food of some kind for a month pre- 

 vious to the lambing season, until pasture is ready. And for this 

 purpose roots are very desirable. Almost any kind may be utilized, 

 but mangels are preferable on account of their good keeping quali- 

 ties, but in practice we also use a great many turnips. 



It is all important to have good, fresh spring water convenient, 

 and so arranged that they may get it easily. If they have to put 

 their front feet in the water in order to reach it, the chances are 

 they will do without, otherwise they will consume a great amount 

 while being fed on dry feed. During a severe cold spell we often 



