General Care of Sheep. 517 



a marked difference between their strongest and weakest mem- 

 bers. The wise flock-master will give attentive care to the divis- 

 ion of his flock that each member may have an equal chance with 

 its fellows at the feed trough and in enjoying comforts and atten- 

 tions from his hand. 



788. Feed for breeding ewes. There is no better roughage in 

 winter for breeding ewes than clover hay, alfalfa hay being its 

 counterpart at the West. Then follow corn fodder, cut in the 

 fall while the leaves are still green, pea straw, oat straw, barley 

 straw, etc. In addition to roughage each breeding ewe should 

 receive half a pound of grain daily, consisting of oats, bran, 

 peas, or a mixture of these. Oil meal is acceptable, and a table 

 spoonful or two may be given to each ewe daily. Corn should 

 form a small part, at most, of the ration for breeding ewes, which 

 should always be kept in good condition and carry more flesh than 

 most American farmers think proper. To winter them on straw, 

 or straw with a little hay and no grain, is to perpetuate a flock 

 that will gradually but surely degenerate. 



789. Date of lambing. The lamb dropped in late winter or 

 early spring is more valuable than one coming in early summer. 

 Under good management the early-yeaued lamb comes into the 

 world with comfortable surroundings and a kind master in at- 

 tendance to give attentions conducive to comfort and growth. 

 "With the coming of spring the young thing is of sufficient size 

 and strength to pass out with its dam and make the most of the 

 fresh grass and genial sunshine. Where there are poor accom- 

 modations or cold quarters, lambs should not be dropped in north- 

 ern latitudes earlier than the month of May, and on pasture. The 

 ambitious flock-master will not be content with this second-rate 

 system, but will provide suitable quarters that his ewes may lamb 

 early. 



790. Hushing the ewes. With the mutton breeds twin lambs 

 are very desirable, and, to secure a large percentage of these, 

 English flock-masters practice what is called " flushing " the ewes 

 at breeding time. The ewes are given an extra supply of nutri- 

 tious, highly palatable food for two or three weeks before the 

 desired date of breeding that they may be rapidly gaining in flesh 



