Live Stock. Sheep Timd of putting, Rams to Ezres* 663 



It has been the common practice, except in particular inftances, to leave the 

 ewes forthepurpofe ofbreeding,withoutany felection ; but it is obvious, that where 

 p-ood fheep-ftockare delired, much care and attention (hould be beftowed in choof- 

 ing fuch as are the moft perfect, and pofTefs in the higheft degree thofe propvrtics 

 which are wanted, let the breed or variety be what it may ; as it is only by ad 

 hering to this principle that fuccefs can be enfured. 



This bufmefs mould therefore be carefully performed at the time they are turned 

 to the ram, if it has not been done before. And it is equally neceflary that a iimilar 

 degree of attentionfhould be paid to the felecting of the rams, and the adapting of 

 them to the ewes. It is remarked by Mr. Young, in his Farmer s Calendar, 

 that the late Duke of Bedford, in attending to this point, had every ram with the 

 lambs got by him the preceding year put in diftinct pens, that he might not only 

 examine them, but their progeny, previous to his deciding &quot;what ewes to draw off 

 for him.&quot; This method is highly judicious, and deferving of imitation by the lefs 

 intelligent (beep farmer. &quot; Such attention,&quot; it is added, &quot;united with a careful fe 

 lection of bull lambs, muft keep a flock in a ftate of progrefiive improvement, pro 

 portioned to the accuracy of judgment, eye, and hand, of the farmer who practifes 



it.&quot; 



The moft advantageous and proper age for ewes taking th e ram in the different 

 breeds has not been fully Ihewn ; but from a year to a year and a half old may be 

 fufficient, according to the forwardnefs of the breed and the goodnefs of the 



keep. 



The ufual time of having the rams admitted is about the beginning of October ; 

 except in the Dorfetfhire ewes, where the intention is fuckling for houfe-lamb, in 

 which cafe it mould be much earlier, in order that the lambs may be fufficiently 

 forward. But, by being kept very well, any of the breeds will take the ram at a much 

 earlier period. Where the rams are young, the number of ewes fliould fcldom 

 exceed fixty for each ram ; but in older rams a greater number may be admitted 

 without inconvenience; but letting them have too many fliould be cautioufly a voided, 

 as by fuch means the farmer may fuftain great lofs in the number of the larpbs. 



The ewe goes with lamb about the fpaceof five months, of courfe the common 

 lambing- feafon is March, or the early part of the fucceeding month ; but in many 

 of the more fouthern diftricts, where fheep-hufbandry is carried on to a confider- 

 able extent, fome parts of the ewe-ftock are put to the rams at much earlier pe 

 riods, fo as to lamb a month or fix weeks fooner; a practice which is attended 



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