478 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XXXIX. 



tobacco water, it is possible that it would repay the expense upon every 

 flock in the kingdom ; but in situations where they are exposed to piercing 

 blasts of the storm, there it evidently appears that the application of tar 

 guards in some degree against the inclemency of climate. It also partially 

 prevents the scab, whereas oil seems, on the contrary, to promote it; for 

 Mr, Sellar, tlie flockmaster to whom we have just alluded, assures us that 

 an oiled sheep rubs the infection into his wool and skin, and gets the dis- 

 ease, while one smeared in the common way escapes it : the mountain 

 breeders, therefore, fear to use it. The tar is likewise necessary for the 

 purpose of retaining any oily ingredients with which it may be mixed, and, 

 perhaps, at least one-fifth of the salve should be in all cases composed 

 of it ; or, in high and stormy parts of the country, one-third : it does not 

 follow, however, that a thicker coat of the salve should be laid upon the 

 sheep. 



The manner of laying on the salve is thus : — The animal is placed upon 

 a stool just broad and long enough to contain his body either when laid 

 across or at length ; and having a narrow projection at one end, forming 

 a seat on which the smearer sits astride. The mixture should be of such 

 a thickness as that he can take it up with his finger, and yet, when drawn 

 along the skin, can be easily rubbed off. The wool is then parted longi- 

 tudinally into rows, without a single pile being allowed to lie across them ; 

 so that the salve can be applied directly to the skin; and the rows should 

 all be at such equal distance from each other, that the salve in the one may 

 reach through the bottom of the piles to the salve in the other : thus 

 covering the skin completely, and anointing every individual pile. No 

 portion of it should, however, appear on the wool, except at its roots, every 

 other part being quite loose and clean : and when thus carefully laid on, a 

 thin covering will answer every useful purpose* . One man, if accustomed 

 to the operation, will completely salve from a score to twenty-five. 



Besides the increase of expense, a heavy coat of salve has also this 

 disadvantage, with regard to ewes — that in running out it causes the loose 

 locks of wool, which hang about the udder, to form themselves into tassels 

 about the size of a teat. This, when the lamb first endeavours to suck, he 

 frequently lays hold of, instead of the object which he is seeking, and, 

 being thus disgusted, he is often deterred from making another attempt. 

 To prevent this, it has been suggested that these tags of wool should be 

 cut off at the time of smearing : they are, indeed, sometimes pulled off, but 

 that is a practice which is not only hurtful to the ewe, but is, from its rough 

 handling, often dangerous to the lambf. 



THE SHEPHERD 



should not only be regularly brought up to his business, so as to be com- 

 petent to direct these matters with the ability of a master, but should also be 

 instructed in all the common surgical operations and modes of prevention and 

 disease usually attendant upon the flock. He should be attentively observant 

 of their habits, of which he can only acquire a perfect knowledge through 

 Ion o- experience : the occupation is therefore nearly hereditary; but if any 

 lad be attentive, and carefully instructed while young in his duties, there 

 can be no doubt that he may acquire all the requisite knowledge to become 

 a valuable servant. 



Although apparently, in most instances, leading a seemingly idle life ni 

 merely watching over the flock, yet in yeaning time, and in all seasons of in- 



* .See Farm. Mai^., vol. xiv. p. 190. 



f Trans, of the ilii^hlaiul Society, N. S., vol. iv. p. 128. 



