SHEEP. 23? 



is best performed in a box or kettle, with a grated, shelf on one side, to con- 

 duct back the fluid as the lamb is laid on it and its wool squeezed, or two 

 tubs may be used, dipping the lamb in one, and standing it up and squeezing 

 its wool in the other. In tobacco-growing regions the refuse stems may be 

 used for this purpose ; elsewhere the farmer should grow a few tobacco plants 

 in his garden. The dipping of the lambs annually will keep ticks out of a 

 flock. Left in it, they are highly destructive to condition, health, and even 

 life. 



ATTENTION TO HORNS, ETC. 



It is necessary at shearing to cut off the wool clean between the horns, and 

 from the head of rams. Otherwise the least fracture of the skin on the head 

 would lead to the parts becoming fly-blown, and to the generation of maggots. 

 For the same reason horns which press on the head should be sawed off, or 

 sections taken from them, which will prevent such pressure. And as rams do 

 not recognize each other immediately after shearing, and are prone to fight, it 

 is a good practice at shearing to smear them at the base of and behind the 

 horns with tar and turpentine, or fish-oil. 



MAGGOTS. 



When maggots are produced in any wound or sore on sheep they can be 

 killed by the application of turpentine, and tar should then be smeared over 

 the part. If the ulcer is old and ill-conditioned, a solution of corrosive subli- 

 mate (two ounces dissolved in a quart of alcohol) will even more effectually 

 destroy maggots and repel flies, and at the same time act as a good stimulant 

 and caustic. 



SALT. 



Sheep should have access to salt, placed under cover, all the time, or they 

 should be regularly fed as much as they will eat once a week. 



WATER AND SHADE. 



Water is not absolutely indispensable in the summer pastures of sheep, but 

 they thrive better with it, especially ewes and their unweaned lambs. The 

 same is true of shade. 



FALL MANAGEMENT. 

 WEANING AND FALL-FEEDING LAMBS. 



Lambs should be weaned at four months old, and should have a nice, sweet, 

 fresh piece of feed in readiness for them on being separated from their dams ; 

 and they should have prime pasturage until the setting in of winter. If it 

 fails, they should be fed some green substitute for it, or receive an allowance 

 of grain. Those breeding mutton sheep often feed cabbage or roots, or fold 

 their lambs on rape. Lambs of any kind should be kept growing from the day 

 of their birth until they reach maturity. This is the great secret of raising 

 sheep profitably. As soon as the cold, heavy, autumn rains begin to fall, 

 lambs should be housed nights, and as winter approaches they should be shel- 

 tered from cold storms in the day time. 



FALL-FEEDING BREEDING EWES. 



The ewes on weaning their lambs should be put on dry, short pasturage, 

 until their milk dries off, and then on feed which will rapidly restore their flesh. 

 They do not as much as lambs demand shelter and extra feed before winter, 

 but there is no doubt that they amply pay for it in condition, especially ewes 

 that are getting old and beginning to lose their strength. Strong, middle-aged 

 sheep, however, demand no other extra feed than hay or cornstalks until winter 



