THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



829 



by Mr. Burrell of Thetford. Mr. Burrell had told him (Mr. 

 Williams) that he had taken out a patent for a portable dis- 

 tillery to meet this very case. He did not think landlords 

 would object to the mere extraction of the spirit if the feeding 

 qualities of the roots were left on the farm ; and the steam- 

 horse and the portable distillery might go from farm to farm 

 extracting the spirit from the roots (laughter), and leaving the 

 bulk of the crop for feeding purposes or for manure, and pos- 

 sibly paying the farmer for the extract alone a considerable 

 profit beyond the cost of production. This appears to me to 

 be a move iu the right direction, for if we are called upon to 

 grow wheat at a low price, which we cannot do, it is worth 

 considering if it would not be wise to cease to a certain ex- 

 tent the growth of that article, and substitute a larger growth 

 of roots for distilling purposes. 



Mr. Mason (Somersham, Huntingdon) said his experience 

 had lain entirey among black feu-land, and for fifteen or twenty 

 years he had been iu the habit of growing mangel-wurzel on 

 land of that description. He agreed with Mr. Baker that, on 

 light soils, the use of the hoe for the purpose of pressure was 

 very desirable. The pressure which he had used, however, was 

 simply that of the heel. After setting the seed he used a 

 handful of blood-manure, and nothing else ; he then resorted 

 to the heel, to secure solidity ; and for some years past his 

 roots had thriven exceedingly well under that process. As 

 regards packing, it was of course very important to effect the 

 operation in such a manner as to prevent fermentation. The 



system which he adopted was this. He invariably mixed his 

 seed, 41bs. being about the quantity. He used 21bs. of globe, 

 and 21bs. of red ; and one advantage of this mixture was that, 

 if the one kind failed, as it frequently did, the other still re- 

 mained to produce the crop. Another advantage of the mix- 

 ture of the globe with the red was found in the packing of 

 the roots, there being less tendency to fermentation ; and, in 

 his own experience, he had sustained comparatively little loss 

 under that mode of proceeding. 



Mr. T. Chandler (Aldbourne, Huugerford), referring to a 

 remark by Mr. Williams in reference to down land, said that 

 he had cultivated mangel wurzel on land of that description 

 with great success, while his turnip cultivation on the same 

 land was a failure. 



Mr. Baker then replied. Adverting to the remarks made 

 with respect to the feeding of pigs on maugel wurzel, he said 

 he had tried it in the case of his own pigs, and the result was 

 not satisfactory. With respect to the crushing of the cap- 

 sules advocated by Mr. Thomas, no doubt the moisture would 

 reach the seed all the better for the external coating being 

 broken, but there was a danger of cracking the seed at the 

 same time. He was very glad that so much interest had been 

 manifested in the subject. 



On the motion of Mr. Thomas, seconded by Mr. Harri- 

 son, thanks were voted to Mr. Baker for his able paper ; and 

 a similar compliment having been paid the Chairman, the 

 meeting separated. 



THE MANAGEMENT OF A FLOCK OF BREEDING EWES, MORE 

 PARTICULARLY IN THE LAMBING SEASON. 



" Sheep," said Fitzherbert long ago, "is the most 

 profitablest cattle that a man can have." Since bis 

 day so much attention has been paid to the breeding and 

 general management of sheep, and with such encou- 

 raging results, that this old writer's statement is more 

 entirely realized than ever be expected. 



In the following remarks upon the treatment of 

 breeding ewes I shall not confine myself particularly to 

 one class. I intend to detail the course generally 

 adopted ; and if specific treatment is noticed, the locality 

 where it prevails will of course be stated. 



We will commence, then, with the selection of ewes 

 to put to the tup. 



This selection is only necessary where a standing flock 

 is kept. Where the flock is a " flying one," since all 

 are disposed of, none obtain a preference. By a _/?y- 

 inff flock is meant one that is purchased a little before, 

 or immediately after, the lambing season, the lambs be- 

 ing disposed of when weaned, and the ewes, when fat, 

 from coleseed, &c. 



The aged ewes, and ewes with no teeth, are first drafted. 

 Some breeders expel every ewe that has had three 

 crops of lambs. 



The flock-masters of North Lincolnshire get off 

 their ewes at their fourth year in prime condition, and 

 make topping prices. 



But whatever variety of practice there may be, a ewe 

 with no teeth, or defective teeth, where turnips are 

 grown, ceases to be used for breeding, as she would fail 

 to sustain not only her progeny, but herself. 



Should the breeder eject from the flock every ewe 

 having a disqualifying property, he might as well give 

 up breeding. Such drafting must, however, depend 

 upon the number oi good substitutes which the shearling 

 ewes or gimmers may supply, which, of course, 



have in their turn to be subjected to a rigid examina- 

 tion. First determine the number of gimmers to be ad- 

 mitted, and then draft out of the old flock a correspond- 

 ing number of the worst animals. Beyond the disquali- 

 fications of age and bad teeth, there are some others 

 which I will mention : thin tvool, hollow back,Jtat sides 

 (indicating a want of space for the foetus), diseased ud- 

 der, asthmatical affections, and diminutive stature. 



This selection is very important, for with improved 

 form we obtain improved constitution. 



Then if the flock is sufficiently large to employ two tups 

 or more, the ewes must be divided into as many classes 

 as there are tups, the breeder designing to correct the 

 defects of the female by the excellencies of the male ; 

 and this course perseveringly pursued is always found 

 to result in a regular, sound, and prolific flock. 



As ewes are more prolific during their third and fourth 

 years than they are before or after, during which time 

 they generally produce single and weak lambs, it seems 

 that a " flying-flock," could it be obtained of the right 

 age, might be more profitable than a standing flock. 

 There are reasons, however, why such a course is open to 

 objection ; but I do not intend to touch upon them now. 



The tup commences his work generally on the 11th 

 October, so that the lambs are expected about the 8th 

 to the nth of March. The date of this operation is 

 varied according to circumstances. For in Scotland the 

 tupping season (or Cheviots is from IStli to 22nd No- 

 vember, with the expectation of receiving the lambs in 

 April, when the weather is milder. In the South, where 

 breeders endeavour to supply the London market with 

 early lamb, arrangements are made by which they arrive 

 at Christmas, and from some classes of Dorsets two crops 

 of lambs are obtained within the year. In the north- 

 eastern counties, the north-eastern wind haying cut 



