SHEEP. 347 



day, by which they sutler no fatigue and thrive much faster. 

 But this is troublesome and injurious, as the exercise is essen- 

 tial to the health and constitution of the lamb intended for 

 rearing. It is admissible only when they are wanted for an 

 early market, and by those who keep sheep for this purpose, it 

 is a common practice. 



Castrating and docking lambs After selecting enough of 

 the choicest rams for stock getters, the castrating may be 

 performed at any time between two and six weeks old, when 

 the lamb is in good health. A cool day should be chosen, or 

 if warm, it must be done early in the morning. The best 

 method is for one person to hold the lamb firmly between his 

 legs, on an inclined plank upon which he rests, while another 

 with a sharp knife, cuts oft" about two thirds of the lower part 

 of the scrotum. The testicles are then drawn out till the 

 spermatic cord is reached, which is divided by the thumb nail, 

 or it is pulled out and cut with a sharp knife. It is sometimes 

 done by simply opening the scrotum, when the testicles and 

 spermatic cord are jerked out. The wound should then be 

 rinsed with cold water, after which apply lard. The opera- 

 tion of docking, is by many deferred till a late period, from 

 apprehension of too much loss of blood ; but if the weather 

 be favorable and the lamb in good condition, it maybe per- 

 formed at this time with the least trouble and without injury. 

 The tail should be laid upon the plank, the person holding 

 him in the same position as before. With one hand he draws 

 the skin towards the body, while the other person with a two- 

 inch chisel and mallet, strikes it oft' at a blow between the 

 bone joints, leaving it one and a half to two inches long. The 

 skin immediately slips back over the wound and is soon healed. 

 Ewe lambs should be docked closer than the rams. To pre- 

 vent flies and maggots, and assist in healing, it is well to apply 

 an ointment composed of lard and tar, in the proportions of 

 four pounds of the former to one quart of the latter. This is 

 also a good application for the scrotum. The lambs should 

 be carefully protected from cold and wet till they are perfectly 

 well. 



Tagging or clotting, is the removal of such wool as is lia- 

 ble to get fouled when the sheep are turned on to the fresh 

 pastures, and of course it should be done just before leaving 

 their winter quarters. It is most easily accomplished by 

 placing the animal on a low table, and then holding it as in 

 shearing, till the operation is performed. All the wool near 

 the extremity of the sheath and the scrotum of the males, 



