The Breeding and Management of Sheep, 41 1 



If the present exceptional price of wool continues, no doubt tlie 

 long-woolled breeds will be mucli run after ; but when the market 

 readjusts itself, those breeds which afford mutton of the first quality 

 will again be in the ascendant. 



Professor Coleman (late of Cirencester), expressed his regret that the 

 name and reputation of Mr. Ellman had not secured a larger attendance 

 at that meeting. There were some points in the excellent address 

 which they had just heard with which he did not quite agree : for in- 

 stance, the extreme importance assigned to purity of breed. In his 

 opinion fixity of type might in time be imparted to a breed of mixed 

 origin by careful rejection of unfavourable specimens. The Shroj)shire 

 sheej) is an instance of success in such arrangement, for no doubt 

 originally some Southdo^vn blood had been infused into the breed. 

 The Southdown s themselves had imi:)roved of late, as they lost some- 

 what of their roving character. The Hampshire again, another oftshoot 

 of the Southdown, have acquired a valuable character, and combine 

 purity both of mutton and wool. With respect to the keep of sheep, 

 it is important that the lamb should live well for the fii'st 3 months, 

 and be supplied with a variety of food, tlie changes which are made 

 in its diet being effected gradually. Winter-barley and winter-oats, 

 combined with vetches, are very useful as early keep. These may be 

 followed by spring vetches, sown with an admixture of rape ; then 

 next in succession rape sown alone, and later rape with an admixture 

 of tiu-nips. These succulent crops may all be used in conjunction 

 with seeds. Judgment should be shown in the management by sup- 

 plying the mown food a little at a time, instead of gorging the racks ; 

 besides this green food the lamb should receive some trough food. 

 From the time it is 1 month old a mixture of oats, peas, linseed- 

 cake, and bran, may be recommended. Many farmers show ill-j)laced 

 stinginess in feeding their flocks — not that forcing is to be recom- 

 mended — a course which, as pm-sucd by ram-breeders, has been a 

 curse to flockmasters ; but a generous diet should be given from 

 the first, and maintained without a check, any check being specially 

 injui'ious to long-woolled sheep, though all breeds suffer. A question 

 has arisen whether swede-turnips are suitable for ewes when in lamb, 

 and, in his opinion, they may properly be given 6 weeks before 

 lambing ; but not only these, but all roots should be used in moderation, 

 and may advantageously be pulped and given together with cut 

 straw. If liberality and discretion were more generally combined in 

 the management of sheep, we should hear much less of good and 

 bad luck. 



Colonel Challoner remarked that he had bought 100 ewes and 

 2 rams from Mr. Ellman, sen., from which he had bred in-and-in, and 

 found that in 3 generations the produce became more like a roe deer 

 than the original sheep. He inquired of Mr. Ellman whether in his 

 judgment swedes could be recommended for ewes after lambing ; and, 

 secondly, as the was in he habit of buying Welsh sheep, how sheep 

 should be kept going t;p to the age of 2 or 3 years, so as to secure 

 mutton of prime quality. 



Mr. Elljian, in reply, observed that breeding in-and-in gives 



