360 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



THE FLOCK IN THE SPRING. 



The lambing season being now for the most part over, 

 the first thing I shall offer a remark or two upon 

 is the subsequent management of the breeding flock. 

 Now, this is a more important question than breeders in 

 general are disposed to admit. The breeding flock is 

 always the first to be made to '' make any shift" if a 

 difficulty arises in the amount and quality of the keep- 

 ing. " Oh, the old ewes must take their chance "; yes, 

 a chance that very frequently produces deplorable re- 

 sults in the following winter. Depend upon it, if the 

 lamb is not thoroughly reared in the sumjjaer, it cannot 

 thrive through a precarious and severe winter ; and if it 

 fortunately should succeed in getting through its cold 

 and storms, its constitution is frequently so impaired 

 that it is unfit for profitable gr&zing or subsequent 

 breeding. 



My last paper on sheep was in reference to the lambing 

 season exclusively. I now offer a few observations in 

 continuation of their proper management, and of the 

 flock generally. The ewes will still require for a consi- 

 derable time their ration of cake^ oats, or cut chaff, toge- 

 ther with a moderate allowance of mangolds, daily. This 

 allowance to be gradually decreased as the pastures pro- 

 gress, but not to be wholly withheld, till the grass is 

 plentiful and nutritive. It is highly desirable to con- 

 tinue the allowance of cut chaff or oats, or, if more con- 

 venient, by all means cake ; for bear in mind that a 

 great thing to be aimed at, in sheep management, is the 

 earliest possible maturity, and this can only be attained 

 by good and liberal keeping. Never let them deterio- 

 rate in condition, and nothing conduces more to pro- 

 mote the healthy growth of the lamb than good oats or 

 cake. The former is to be preferred, as aiding most in 

 the proper formation of bone and healthiness of progress 

 in the lamb, as also in the young sheep of the flock. 



For the reception of the breeding flock as they are 

 ready to leave the lambing field, the most suitable por- 

 tion of the grass fields and grazing seeds should be " laid 

 in" early in the winter, to which they should be drafted 

 as the best judgment of the breeder dictates. If the 

 pastures are very forward and fruitful, care should be 

 taken not to turn thereon any but strong lambs ; neither 

 should the weaker ewes be permitted to go there, as the 

 cold grass and cold rains incident to the early season 

 may cause scouring. The change must be gradual for 

 every weak animal, or much danger arises. Better to 

 keep them on the barer pastures, or in the lambing field 

 enjoying their customary allowance, than to run any 

 hazard in putting them on strong and most probably 

 at this time purgative grasses. As the season advances 

 and the weather becomes warmer, they may be put on 

 with safety. All that is required at this period is to 

 " clag them," i. e., to clip off a small quantity of wool 

 from the inside of the upper part of the thighs imme- 

 diately and about the tail, so as to prevent accumula- 

 tions of dirt in that region, which in *' fly time" is a 



great enticement to their nasty and prejudicial attacks. 

 It is not in accordance with good management to " lay 

 them" on the pastures too thickly. Ewes, while suck- 

 ling, always do best where they have plenty of room to 

 rove about, and plenty of choice in their food to gather 

 where they like. A mixture of store-sheep or fatten- 

 ing sheep with them is best, and then not too numer- 

 ously. There ought in every pasture allotted to sheep 

 to be a few cattle depasturing in addition ; they eat of 

 certain coarse and stronger grasses, which tends to im- 

 prove the pasture for sheep. In the course of a few 

 weeks it behoves the breeder to look well to them, as it 

 is most probable they will require a change ; they are 

 delicately feeding animals, and if they take a dislike to 

 certain spots in the field, from one cause or other, they 

 will not feed there, and the consequence often is, that 

 other portions are fed off too closely, and a loss in con- 

 dition takes place. In such case, and in similar 

 ones, exchange of field with other sheep will gene- 

 rally prevent this, and cause the field to be more 

 evenly grazed. Many of these minor matters, if pro- 

 perly attended to, avail much in promoting the 

 prosperity of the breeding flock. A change from 

 a good pasture to an inferior one is frequently attended 

 with advantage, contradictory though it be. 



In the best-managed flock it will occasionally happen 

 that lice, ticks, or scab may, unfortunately, intrude ; 

 and very annoying and trying it is, particularly the 

 latter infection. In such cases, the breeder cannot be 

 too cautious at this season. It is dangerous to use the 

 common remedies. Arsenical mixtures, however di- 

 luted, are almost sure to have a fatal effect upon some 

 of tlie suckling lambs, because, if you apply the " fag- 

 water" never so carefully, the udder will be partially 

 wetted ; and then, should the lamb imbibe any quantity, 

 it must receive injui'y, and probably die. Should it, 

 however, be found absolutely necessary to dress the 

 ewes, the lambs should, at all events, be kept from them 

 for a few hours. To resort to mercurial ointments in 

 cases of that dire pest, scab, is a most hazardous expe- 

 riment. The best way in such cases is, " blotch them" 

 till after clip-day, or till weaning-time. By "blotch- 

 ing" I mean, to dress any affected part showing itself 

 with ointment, so as to keep the infection under till 

 weaning-time, when both ewes and lambs will require 

 dressing. Happy is the breeder who misses the latter 

 pest. 



The fatting sheep must, of course, have the richest 

 pasturage; and, for the early part of the season, they 

 should be supplied with mangolds daily. I say man- 

 golds, because they are not only the best spring food, 

 but have become universally grown, or speedily will be. 

 An addition of corn or cake will add greatly to their 

 progress. I believe that, taking into account the 

 increase in wool and mutton, and the extra number 

 which the pasture may thus be made to carry— that a 



