BREEDING SHEEP. 61& 



North. It is better that a ewe go dry than that she have a lamb 

 after the first of June. And after the rutting season is over, the 

 rams become cross and frequently strike the pregnant ewes danger- 

 ous blows with their heavy horns. 



How Flocks Should be Divided If sheep are shut up 

 in small enclosures during the winter, according to the Northern 

 custom, it is necessary to divide them into flocks of about one hun- 

 dred each, to consist of sheep of about the same size and strength. 

 Otherwise the strong will rob the weaker and the latter rapidly 

 decline. This is better even in summer, as the poorer and feebler 

 can thus receive better pasture or a little more grain and shelter in 

 winter. By those who grow wool to any great extent, breeding 

 ewes, lambs and wethers are invariably kept in separate flocks in 

 winter, and it is best to keep yearling sheep by themselves with a 

 few of the smallest two-year-olds, and any old crones which are 

 noted for their excellence as breeders, but which cannot maintain 

 themselves in the flock. 



Clipping the Hoofs The hoofs of fine-wooled sheep grow 

 rapidly, turn up in front and under at the sides, and must be clip- 

 ped as often as once a year, or they become unsightly and accumu- 

 late filth, and if it does not originate the hoof-evil, as claimed by 

 some, greatly aggravates it and increases the difficulty of curing it. 

 Clipping may be advantageously done at washing time while the 

 hoof is clean, and the horn softened. They should be cut by toe 

 nippers, or a chisel and mallet, and pared to the level of the soles 

 with a sharp knife the closer the better so long as it does not 

 bleed. 



Time for Washing Sheep This is usually done in the 

 North about the first of June. The climate of the Southern states 

 will permit of its being done earlier. The rule should be to wait 

 until the water is warm enough for bathing and cold rains and 

 storms and cold nights are no longer expected. The washers should 

 be strong and careful men, and the sheep shpuld be quickly but 

 thoroughly washed, taking care not to keep the animal long enough 

 in the water to give a chill. It is a great object, not only as a mat- 

 ter of propriety and honesty, but of profit, to get the wool clean 

 and of a snowy whiteness. It will always sell for more than enough 

 extra in this condition to offset for the increased labor and diminu- 

 tion of weight. 



Proper Time Between Washing and Shearing This 



will depend altogether upon circumstances. If the weather is 

 bright and warm, four or five days will suffice. If cold and rainy, 

 and cloudy, more time must elapse. The rule is that the water 

 should be thoroughly dried out, and the natural oil of the wool so 

 far exude as to give the fleece an unctuous feel, and a lively, glit- 

 tering look. If you shear it when dry like cotton, you cheat your- 

 self in weight, and the wool will not keep so well for long periods. 



