SHEEP, SWINE, AND OTHEK DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 413 



still more and so on, the profits of the transaction increasing 

 every year. 



Eams at eight to ten months old, if very strong and healthy, 

 may serve five or six ewes ; in the second year thirty or forty, 

 in the third year, one hundred. After this, if properly managed, 

 every strong, healthy, well-cared for ram may serve one hundred 

 and fifty to two hundred and fifty ewes in the coupling season of 

 six weeks. This is on the supposition that he serves each ewe 

 but once. When the foolish practice is adopted of allowing the 

 ram to run with the ewes, forty to fifty are enough for a ram, 

 and two rams should never be put into a flock together. Eams 

 properly used, and never overtasked, are good until their 

 seventh or eight year. When in service the ram should have 

 oats with his hay, and a few roots, oil cake, and extra care. 



Spring Management of Sheep. When changing the 

 flock from dry feed to grass, let them out only a few hours 

 each day for several days, keeping up in part their dry feed. 

 Tagging, is cutting off the wool about the vent, from the roots 

 of the tail, down the inside of the thigh. It should always be 

 done before the flock is turned out in the spring. Ewes with 

 lamb should be held on their side by a helper, and always 

 handled very carefully. If the pastures contain burdock, this- 

 tles, beggar ticks, etc., they should be cut, gathered, and burned 

 before the sheep are turned out. Lambing time varies widely 

 with different flock-masters. The aim should be to have the 

 lambing season from about the middle of April to the middle 

 of May. The ewe averages about five months in pregnancy. 

 The flock-master should make himself very familiar with the 

 ewes for some time before lambing, so that he can handle them 

 without diflS.culty. Never a harsh word or action among sheep. 

 Lambing requires a well littered, clean, well ventilated room, 

 whether stable or shed. If the days are warm and pleasant 



