Sheep Breeders' Association. 365 



prefer this kind of ewes to the regular western Merino ewes or a 

 cross of the Merino and the long wool breeds. I select ewes having 

 a strong constitution, which I consider is absolutely necessary to 

 make a mother that will suckle her young well. I am very care- 

 ful to get sheep that are well wooled on all places and with a cross 

 between the Merino and the middlewool breeds, as above named, 

 I get a moderately dense fleece and a medium length staple. 



My method of managing the flock from the time the lamb is 

 weaned till breeding time, which is approximately from June the 

 1st, till August 1st, is as follows : 



Summer care of the flock is easy if you have plenty of grass, 

 water and shade. I always have good pastures, being either 

 legumes or grasses. Personally, I prefer blue grass slightly mixed 

 Vv'ith white clover, as legum.es are apt to get the ewes too fat be- 

 fore breeding time. I never allow the flock to stay longer than 

 three weeks in one pasture without changing to new quarters. By 

 these frequent clianges I lessen the danger of infection by para- 

 sites, which is apt to come from too close grazing of pastures. A 

 frequent change also gives the flock a chance to select the things 

 most palatable to them. 



My sheep always have access to shade and penty of fresh 

 water. I am of the opinion that standing water is always more or 

 less infected with dangerous parasites. 



My only means of protection against the gad fly is to plow a 

 few furrows where the sheep stand in the shade. 



A close watch must be kept throughout the summer to keep 

 all tags sheared off and the worms kept out of the wool, caused 

 by wet tags. I also note the general health, so that parasites will 

 not get the start of me. 



Salt is kept in the pasture all the time. I do not feed salt 

 alone, but a mixture which I have used and found very helpful in 

 combating parasites, especially stomach worms. The formula is as 

 follows : 



Salt 1 bushel. 



Air slacked lime 1 peck. 



Sulphur 1 gallon. 



Pulverized resin 2 quarts. 



Copperas 1 lb. 



Another good way to combat stomach worms is to increase 

 the woody or fibrous content of the stomach, which can easily be 

 done by turning the flock in a corn field, so that the sheep will have 



