

WOOL. 



WOOL. 



990 



long-woolled sheep with that which the Southdowns has exerted on 

 breeds allied to it in the character of their wool. 



The largest of the other breeds of long-woolled sheep was the Lin- 

 coins, " hornless, with long, thin, and weak carcases, large bones, 

 weighing from 20 to 30 Ibs. a quarter ; the wool averaging from 8 to 

 14 Ibs. the fleece ; the -1 eep a alow feeder, and the flesh coarse- 

 grained." This is the account of them given by a good, but a pre- 

 judiced observer Mr. Culley. In fact, while Bakewell and his ad- 

 mirers were almost neglecting the fleece, the Lincolnshire farmer was 

 quite as inattentive with regard to the carcase. Both parties were 

 wrong. The old Lincolnshire sheep yielded a wool which in quantity 

 and in quality was unrivalled, while the Leicesters could boast of a 

 disposition to fatten which the other could never equal. At length 

 the attempt was honestly made to amalgamate the valuable qualities 

 of the two breeds. In consequence of the cross, the wether attained 

 its maturity a full year sooner than it was accustomed to do, and the 

 fleece became finer and improyed in colour, but it was shorter and 

 more brittle, and not fitted for some of its former purposes. On the 

 whole, a great improvement has been effected both in the carcase and 

 the fleece ; and so satisfactory did this prove, that it is now difficult to 

 find any sheep in Lincolnshire that have not been crossed with the 

 fers. This cross is deeper on the wolds than in the marsh lands, 

 which may serve to account for the difference of the fleece in the two. 

 The breed of these sheep generally has been greatly increased since the 

 introduction of the turnip system. The lustrous character of the 

 wool* has given them a high value in the manufacture of woollen 

 fabrics, corresponding to those made of Alpaca wool, with which they 

 are mixed. 



Among the long-woolled sheep that have been improved by the 

 admixture of the old and now long-woolled breeds and the altered 

 system of husbandry, the inhabitants of Romney Marsh must not be 

 forgotten. 



The Cotawold sheep, of Gloucester, were a long-woolled breed, yield- 

 ing in the 15th century a description of wool much valued on account 

 of the fabrics in the construction of which it was employed. Even 

 they, like the reet, have amalgamated themselves with, and been in a 

 manner lout among, the Leicester.-*. They were taller than the present 

 'lefa-ient in the fore-quarter, but full in the hind- 

 quarter, not fattening so early, but yielding a long and heavy fleece. 

 Many of these good qualities have been preserved, and to them have 

 been added tl.at which is of so much importance to the farmer the 

 capability of rearing and fattening feo many more sheep on the same 

 quantity nf land, and of bringing them so much earlier to the market. 



This will !.. the proper place to speak of the thearing of the sheep, 



or the Reparation of the fleece fruin the animal. The animal is first 



washed in some running stream. Two or three days are then allowed 



for the drying of the wool previous to its being shorn, the sheep being 



i into a clean pasture, and remaining there until the fleece its 



dried, and that the new yolk, which in rapidly secreted, may penetrate 



li it, giving it a little additional weight and a peculiar softness 



As soon as the sheep is shorn, the mark of the owner is placed upon it, 



ii lamp-black and tallow, with a small portion of tor, melted 



.ill uot be washed away by any rain, but may be 



d by the application of soap and water. 



Few rules can be laid down with regard to the rearing and feeding 

 of sheep that will admit of anything like general application. A great 

 deal depends on the kind of sheep, and the nature of the pasture and 

 the food. 



; 11 me the larger kind of sheep, and on arable ground. The ewes 

 are generally ready to receive the ram at the beginning of October, 

 and the duration of pregnancy is from about twenty-one to twenty- 

 three weeks, bringing the period of parturition to nearly the beginning 

 of March, at which time most of the lambs will be dropped. The ewes 

 Uier better than usual a short time previous to the 

 male being introduced, liams are fit to propagate their species in the 

 autumn of the second year, and that is also the proper period for the 

 impregnation of the ewes. The ewe is, after impregnation, suffered to 



.M the usual pasture, being supplied, as occasion may require, 

 with extra food, and especially in case of snow, until within five or six 

 weeks of lambing, when turnips are given to her, and continued from 

 that time until the spring of grass renders them no longer necessary. 

 The turnips are bid nut for the ewes in the grass fields in certain 



'ties each day, but by no means BO many as they would consume 



milled to feed without restriction, as it is considered to be most 



;.mt that they should not be too fat when the lambing season 



i<;he.s. The hogs and the fattening sheep of the previous year, 



ne year and a half old, nre put upon the turnips in October, or 



whenever the pastures cease to improve their condition. The turnips 



^d for the cattle, or the ewe-flock, are then drawn off in alternate 



v'irti'>n of one-half, one third, or one-fourth, as the 



situation, the goodness of the crop, or the quality 



ay dictate. The remainder are consumed on the ground 



by I i i'p. 



An the period of parturition approaches, the attention of the shep- 



>se. There should be no dogyiny then, but the ewes 



to some sheltered incloeure. and there loft as much 



an possible undisturbed. Should abortion take place with regard to 



any of them, although it does not spread through the flock as in cattle, 



yet the ewe should be immediately removed to another iuclosure, and 

 small doses of Epsom salts with gentian and ginger administered to 

 her, no great quantity of nutritive food being allowed. 



The ewes should now be moved as near home as convenience will 

 permit, in order that they may be under the immediate observation of 

 the lamber. The operation of dotting, or the removal of the hair from 

 under the tail and around the udder, should be effected on every long- 

 woolled ewe, otherwise the lamb may be prevented from sucking by 

 means of the dirt which often accumulates there, and the lamber may 

 not be able at all times to ascertain what ewes have actually lambed. 

 The clatting before the approach of winter is a useless, cruel, and 

 dangerous operation. 



The period of lambing having actually commenced, the shepherd 

 must be on the alert. The process of nature should be permitted 

 quietly to take its course, unless the sufferings of the mother are unu- 

 sually great, or the progress of the labour has been arrested during 

 several hours. Experience will teach the course to be pursued in that 

 case. If any of the newly-dropped lambs are weak, or scarcely able to 

 .stand, the shepherd must give them a little of the milk, which at these 

 times he should always carry about him, or he must place them in 

 some sheltered warm place ; in the course of a little while the young 

 one will probably be able to join its dam. The operation of castration 

 shpuld be performed nine or ten days after the birth of the lamb. 



Unless the pasture on which the ewes are placed is very good, it will 

 be advisable to continue the use of the turnips. A moderate quantity 

 may be given twice in the day, care being taken that the whole of one 

 quantity shall be eaten before any more is placed before them. This 

 is a better practice than hurdling off certain portions of the field fur 

 the sheep, unless the land is perfectly dry. A little hay will always 

 be serviceable while the flock is fed on turnips. It corrects the occa- 

 sional watery quality of the turnips, and the sheep usually thrive 

 better than if they are fed either on hay or turnips alone. Bran and 

 oats, with oil-cake, have been recommended for the ewes before wean- 

 ing time, but this is an expensive measure, and its cost can hardly be 

 either by the ewe or the lamb. By the end of March or the 

 beginning of April the turnips are generally nearly consumed, and the 

 farmer is occasionally a little puzzled to find sufficient food for hia 

 flock. He should have hud some plots of rye to support them for 

 awhile. Rye-grass and clover are very serviceable. Mangold wurzel 

 and Swedish turnips that have been carefully stacked on dry straw 

 will be most useful, for they will retain their nutritive quality until 

 the flock can be conveniently supplied with other food. 



At length comes the time for weaning. In a poor country it takes 

 place before the lambs are much more than three months old. In a 

 more plentiful one the lambs may be left until the fourth month is 

 nearly or quite expired. If the pasture is good, and it is intended to 

 sell the lambs in store 'condition, the weaning may be delayed until 

 six months. Whichever time is selected, it is of essential consequence 

 that the mothers and the lambs should be placed so far apart that they 

 cannot hear the bleatings of each other. The ewes should be some- 

 what carefully looked after, and if any of them refuse to eat, they 

 should be caught, the state of the udder ascertained, and proper mea- 

 sures adopted. 



The lambs should not be put on too stimulating food. The pasture 

 should be fresh and sweet, but not luxuriant. It should be sufficient 

 to inninUiin and somewhat increase their condition, but not to produce 

 any dangerous determination of blood to any part. 



The DistoMi of Sheep. Commencing with the head, a parasite, having 

 the appearance of a bladder filled with pellucid water, attacks the 

 brain. The origin of it is connected with bad management, being 

 scarcely known in upland pastures or in grounds that have been well 

 drained. As the parasite grows, it presses upon the neighbouring 

 substance of the brain, and interferes with the discharge of its func- 

 tions ; the sheep becomes giddy, is frightened at any trifling or imagi- 

 nary object ; he separates himself from his companions ; he commences 

 a strange rotatory motion even while he grazes, with the head always 

 turned towards the same side. This is the characteristic symptom, 

 and as soon as it is perceived the animal should be destroyed, for there 

 is no certain cure, and many of the operations that some persons have 

 described are cruel and inefficient. 



A somewhat similar disease, but with which the hydatid has nothing 

 to do, is Hydrocephalus, or water in the head, generally indicated by a 

 little enlargement of the skull; a disinclination to move ; a slight stag- 

 gering in the walk ; a stupidity of look, and a rapid loss of condition. 

 This disease seldom admits of cure or palliation. If any amendment 

 can be effected, it will be by the administration of good food, tonic 

 medicine, and gentle aperients. 



Another species of pressure on the brain is of too frequent occurrence 

 Apoplexy. A flock of sheep shall be in apparently as good and fine 

 condition as the farmer can desire. They have for a considerable 

 period grazed on the most luxuriant pasture, and are apparently in the 

 highest state of health. By and bye, one or more of them is, without 

 any previously observed change, suddenly taken ill. He staggers, is 

 unconscious, falls and dies, and perhaps within a quarter of an hour 

 from the first attack. With regard to how many over-fattened sheep 

 is this the case ? If there is time for resorting to curative means, the 

 jugular vein should be opened, and aperient medicine administered. 



Inflammation of the brain is a frequent consequence of over-feeding. 



