Uve Stock. Sheep Mountain Kinds Management of. 



thefe districts, though it does not prevail,we believe, in the meep-hu (band ry of any 

 of the more fouthern parts of the ifland . After this work has been performed, the 

 old ftock-fheep are returned to their former fituation, and, in fome cafes, the hogs 

 and other young Iheep with them. But in other cafes a better management is pur- 

 fued ; infome inftances, where the nature of the farms will admit of it, thefe laft 

 i&quot; jj ts being wintered in the inclofed pafture grounds that are near to the houfes ; 

 and in other places, what are termed the home-grounds, whether open or inclofed* 

 are purpofely prefervedor faved during the fummer feafon, in order to admit the 

 whole ftock to be fupported on them in the winter. When thefe are not fufficient 

 for this ufe, others at a diftance are frequently provided. In fevere feafons, fomc 

 hay or ftraw is likewife given daily.* 



In the fheep-diftric ts in the moft northern parts of the kingdom, a ftill lefs eligi 

 ble management is in ufe : the flocks are in common left to provide for themfelves 

 even in the moft fevere and inclement feafons, when thebledk tracts on which they 

 live are covered deeply -with fnow. In thefe cafes the fheep have their chief de 

 pendence for fubiiftence on their own habits, which lead them to remove the fnow 

 by their feet with great facility till they reach the heath or withered herbage. 

 &quot;When the fnow is falling or blown by a ftorm, the fhepherds, however, drive the 

 ,flocks without intermiffiorij round the top of a hill, in a circle, in order to keep them 



from lowering and being drifted up or fmothered. It is likewife the practice in fome 



* 



The bufmefsisin fome places done in November. In Perthfhire the ftore-mafters fmear their lambs 

 about the beginning of Odober ; and if the weather be favourable, they continue the work, without 

 intermiflion, till all the Iheep, they intend, be fmeared. In fome places they fmear only the weaker 

 ;fheep ; in others places the whole. One man fmears twenty or twenty-four in a day, leaving about 

 an inch betwixt every fhed of the wool. 



The benefit expected from this practice is, that it makes the Iheep hardier and warmer, that it cleans 

 them from vermin and cutaneous difUmpers, and that it prevents their lofing the wool. They contend 

 further, lhat the wool pays very nearly the whole expence, the fame number of fleeces of fmeared and 

 white wool bringing an equal fum in the market, becaufe what the fmeared wool wants it quality it has 

 in weight : and laftly it is urged, that w the more butter there is in the composition, the grain of the 

 wool is fofter and more h lky ; that by the practice of fmearing, the young Iheep are raifed in the bone, 

 are preferred in the market, and fetch a better price. 



But, &quot; notwithstanding all thofe arguments in favour of fmearing, others condemn the practice tctal- 

 Jy. There is little doubt that it forms a cruft about the animal s body, and contributes to defend it 

 from the cold, and thus it may be proper in a ftormy fituation, while it is unneceffary where there is 

 plenty of flielter.&quot; 



* Donaldfon i Porefent State of Iluibandry in Great Britain, 



