35 



two years. When the lambs are separated from 

 their mothers take away the ewes, the lambs 

 fret very little. If there is yet milk in the ewes 

 remove it a few times, not quite clean. 



DIPPING. 



"A man ought to bathe once a year, wheth- 

 er he needs it or not." So of the sheep, dip 

 them once a year, whether they need it or not. 

 There are almost surely a few ticks, maybe a few lice on them. 

 Dipping costs but a trifle. Provide a steel tank, galvanized. Sink 

 it in the floor of your sheep house. When not in use cover it with 

 good planking. A tank six or eight feet long will answer for a small 

 flock and as they are all narrow it takes but little stuff to fill them. 

 Have the draining pen long and narrow so that as the sheep walk up 

 one at a time they may be let out ahead. Pen with movable hurd- 

 les or panels. Half a day with three active men will dip a flock of 

 a hundred. The carbolic dips are safe and good. There is no prof- 

 it in ticks, though there is much money in them, at present ! 



MATING. 



"The sire is half the herd, if he is a poor one he is all of it." 

 Get a vigorous sire. Do not think too much of size. Look that he 

 is active, muscular, alive all over. See that he is big through the 

 heart. See that he has a straight back, a well sprung rib, a good, 

 short, straight leg. See that his horn is strong, well turned. See 

 that his neck is thick and muscular. Have him well wooled all over. 

 Study your scale of points. Don't quibble about the price but be a 

 stickler for quality. If he is not right you will regret it all your life, 

 maybe, for it takes ten year's weeding to undo one year's bad 

 breeding. And every year send to the butcher the ewes that you 

 know are inferior. 



