30^ Journal of Agriculture. [8 May, 1908. 



to the tail (and many of our merino flocks can now be found cutting good 

 combing pieces from these parts), the drainage after lambing collects and 

 drains into this wool, attracting the fly by the smell, and providing a home 

 for the maggots, which afterwards seem to create enough moisture to main- 

 tain themselves and attract others, and to extend in some cases right along 

 the back. Some seasons ewes do not clean so freely as in other seasons, 

 and when this is the case there is most trouble. Crutching ewes a month 

 or six weeks before lambing is a good plan, but of course entails a deal of 

 work and expense, and there is also a certain amount of danger to the ewes 

 if roughly handled. If this wool is cut away clear, there is then nothing 

 to detain the drainage, and attract the flv. 



Powder dips at the strength used for ordinary parasites are not strong 

 enough, as they do not stop the fly from blowing. They may retard the 

 growth and spread of the maggots, but to such a small extent as to be 

 hardly worth considering. When made stronger and applied direct they 

 certainly stop the young maggots from growing and spreading, and this 

 allows time to get round and clear them before much damage is done. The 

 tiGuble is that as the wool grows the preparation is carried with it and in a 

 few w'eeks there is new wool next the skin that allows of retention of mois- 

 ture and for the maggots to live and thrive and spread in it. What is 

 wanted is something that will keep soluble and, as the wool grows, will 

 spread towards the skin and \et not aft'ect the growth of the wool. The 

 folds in stud weaner ewes that help to stop the free escape of urine. &:c., 

 can, with some of the powder dips, be removed in a few applications, details 

 of which will be given later on. 



Flies are most prevalent in late spring and earl\ autumn, in moist warm 

 weather, and in timbered countrw There are cvcles of seasons favorable to 

 them. To keep the sheep healthy, and to remove any attraction for the 

 flv is the first consideration, but if the maggots are there, nothing equals 

 vvhite spirits of tar for speedy killing and for .searching qualities, and at 

 the same time the growth of the wool will not be affected ; biit it is very 

 little service as a preventive. For economy, the best method is to use a 

 scent bottle and shake the spirits of tar on the afi^ected part, or a pint 

 bc^ttle, (if a lot of ewes are to he treated), with a hole cut in the cork. 

 This will allow only a little fluid to escape at a time. With some stud 

 breeders the custom is to lamb the ewes in a small paddock, and as each 

 ewe lambs, cut away the wool from about the tail and let the ewe and lambs 

 mto the paddock where the Iambs are to be reared. Where foxes are bad 

 the lambs are tarred over the back of the head and neck and a dab is also 

 placed on the hips at the same time. 



All the methods mentioned necessitate work, and the ewes being varded. 

 Many who still adhere to the old custom and belief that in-Iamb and lamb- 

 ing ewes should not be disturbed but should be left severely alone, will 

 doubtless raise an objection to this statement. Unnecessary knocking about 

 and rough dogging and ringing are certainly harmful, but the other extreme 

 of leaving them to themselves is out of the question with merino sheep bred 

 to the standard of our best flocks of to-day. Unless a dog is well under 

 control when with lambing ewes he is best left at home, but a good dog is 

 helpful. A ewe will often stand and stamp her foot at the dog until a man 

 runs up and catches her. A careful man and a good dog among stud ewes 

 are invaluable ; on the other hand, nothing is worse than a reckless, bad- 

 tempered shepherd and a bad dog. Ewes are quieter and better if thev 

 are accustomed to l)eing gone through and rounded up at frequent intervals 



