SHEEP. • 235 



become lame in their legs, hobble about, and, in some cases, are unable to 

 stand. Put them in a warm, dry place, and give two or three spoonfuls of 

 lard and one of turpentine, once or twice, as may be required, to each lamb ; 

 rubbino- the affected parts with hartshorn or opodeldoc will assist in the cure. 



TREATMENT OF EWES AFTER LA5IBIXG. 



A ewe should not be required to move about much for a few hours after 

 lambing. If her teats are closed against the efforts of the lamb, squeeze them 

 out with the Avetted fingers. If they have been cut off in shearing and are 

 grown up, reopen them with a needle, followed by a hot knitting needle, insert- 

 ing neither further than is necessary. The sucking of the lamb will generally 

 keep them open ; but if they become inflamed, the ewe miist be held for the 

 lamb to suck, and some cooling lotion applied to the part. 



If the udder is hard and hot, it should be fomented by frequently and con- 

 tinuously applying to it a cloth dipped in hot water. Repeated washings Avith 

 cold water produce the same effect, but more slowly, and with a greater ten- 

 dency to dry up the milk. If the lamb is dead, and there are indurated tumors 

 in the udder, apply iodine ointment. 



DISOWNING LAMBS, ETC. 



A ewe which disowns her lamb, or one which is required to adopt a foster 

 lamb, should be confined alone with it in a dark place, and, if possible, out of 

 hearing of other sheep, and she should be held several times a day for it to 

 suck. Frightening a CAve Avhen with her lamb, by shoAviug hei- a strange dog, 

 or a child Avearing a bright colored mantle, sometimes* arouses her dormant 

 maternal instincts. If a ewe's dead lamb is skinned, and the skin tied on a 

 living lamb, she will generally readily adopt it. If she hesitates, rubbing gin 

 on her nose and sprinkling it on the lamb Avill facilitate the process. 



DOCKING AND CASTRATION. 



These processes should be performed when the lamb is not more than two 

 or three weeks old, and before warm Aveather comes on ; and it is an excellent 

 plan to smear the Avounds with a compound of tar, butter, and turpentine. The 

 tail should be cut off" so that no part of the bone is left uncovered. Castration 

 is an operation sufficiently famUiar to most farmers. 



SUMMER MANAGEMENT 

 TIAIE AND MODE OF AAASHING. 



It is generally held by those who haA^e tried it that early shearing is prefer- 

 able for sheep, if they can be subsequently housed in case of severe storms or 

 unusually cold nights. As early Avashing is improper in cold climates, it is 

 urged that sheep should be shorn unAvashed. This is a question on A\^hich the 

 wool-grower should be allowed to exercise his oavu judgment ; nor should any 

 buyer attempt to compel Avashing, or to take adA-antage of its omission by in- 

 sisting on a particular and fixed rate of shrinkage on unwashed aa'ooIs. The 

 shrinkage on CA'ery lot should be proportioned to its actual condition, as de- 

 duction is made on Avheat, other products, or foreign avooIs which contain 

 impurities. The mode of Avashing sheep does not require to be here described. 



CUTTING HOOFS. 



Merino sheep generally require to have their feet trimmed at least once a 

 year. Some do this at Avashing, Avhen the feet are clean and soaked soft ; 

 others immediately after shearing. 



