FEEDING EARLY LAMBS. 213 



season than the coarser grades, and this is a very essential 

 point gained; yet many of our early-lamb raisers, even 

 with this class of ewes, are troubled and seriously annoyed 

 because of their ewes' unwillingness to couple earlier in the 

 season. How to overcome this difficulty is a problem which 

 they all would like to have solved. There have been a 

 great many theories advanced by a great many gkeat men ; 

 and all, when put to the test, have proved to be nothing but 

 theories. 



I have but one statement to make with reference to this 

 matter of coupling, and that is obtained from one of the 

 most skilful and eminent physicians in this county, and 

 one upon which he is willing to risk his reputation as a 

 physician ; viz., " Have your ewes in a good healthy condi- 

 tion, not too fat, and then give them the following prescrip- 

 tion : one half-pint of ground oats per head, to which add 

 from one to three grains of hyperphosphate of lime, and 

 within four days' time the great work is accomplished, pro- 

 vided your ram is good for any thing." 



Another reason why the class of ewes I spoke of is the 

 best is, that they seldom produce twins, they have better 

 constitutions, are better milkers, and will recuperate quicker 

 after the lambs are taken from them. 



With such ewes, and with such care as I have indicated, 

 with a suitable place, there is no necessity for the man who 

 has the care of the sheep to have a watch-meeting every 

 night for fear the little lamb, with the aid of its mother, will 



not survive. 



» 



With good early-cut hay or rowen, and a small feed of 

 oats and roots each day, prior to lambing, you will ex- 

 perience little trouble with your ewes "not owning " their 

 lambs, or a lack of milk to give them strength in this their 

 time of need. As soon as the ewes have recovered, the prac- 

 tice of many is to feed them in the morning with one quart 

 each of mangolds or turnips, and at night one pint of half 

 cotton-seed meal and half corn-cob meal well mixed. The 

 lambs should have a separate apartment from the ewes, where 

 they should be early taught to congregate for the purpose of 

 eating their grain, which should consist of oat and oil meal, 

 or perhaps a little corn-meal mixed, any thing but cotton- 

 seed meal. Do not give cotton-seed meal to your lambs, 



