450 MODERN FAKHIEK. 



sores should be cleaned and dressed; The feet 

 should be looked at, and every animal which has 

 swelled or ulcerated liu'ibs should be separated from 

 the flock. These, and all others which seem to be 

 sickly, should be kept at home until cured. Sheep 

 ought to be collected and examined more frequently 

 than at the usual stated times. 



It is an excellent practice with many good sheep- 

 farmers, to clip off all tlie coarse soiled wool about 

 the thighs and docks, some weeks before the usual 

 time of washing and clipping the sheep ; as by this 

 means the sheep are kept clean and cool, when the 

 season is hot, and with ewes the udders are pre- 

 vented from becoming sore. This practice is com- 

 mon with some South Down sheep-masters, as well 

 as in Yorkshire. 



57. Marking. 



It is usual, after the shearing has been performed, 

 to mark the sheep with reddle, ochre, or some simi- 

 lar substance ; and some also cut the ear in different 

 ways. The marking with tar has been said to be 

 prejudicial; but where a small quantity is only em- 

 ployed, little injury can be sustained. In almost all 

 the sheep districts of the kingdom, except in Dor- 

 setshire, the tails of sheep are shortened, which 

 seems to be an useful practice in keeping the ani- 

 mals more, clean behind, and of course less liable to 

 be stricken with the fly. It has, however, been 

 suggested, in the ninth volume of the Annals of 

 Agriculture, that by this custom the sheep may be 

 rendered less able to drive away the flies. ^ The ge- 

 neral prevalence of the practice would, however, 

 seem to prove its being of advantage. There is 

 much difference in the manner of performing the 

 business in different districts, in respect to the 

 length ; but four or five inches being left are quite; 

 sufficient. It is usually done while the ajiimals ixxe^ 



