FITTING SHEEP FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 69 



sharp-edged tools." Unquestionably it is, and those not 

 being well-versed in their use are certainly very liable to 

 come to grief and disaster in handling them. No doubt in- 

 breeding has done much toward fixing the type of various 

 animals so firmly as to warrant their coming under the 

 name of pure-bred. But those of us who are not well versed 

 in the laws of breeding had better leave such work to abler 

 hands. This is a science of which but very few of even 

 our very best shepherds or flockmasters can lay claim to 

 know much about. Therefore in-breeding cannot be rec- 

 ommended with any degree of safety, especially to the 

 young shepherd. It is always advisable to introduce new 

 blood into the flock each year. This is one sure and easy 

 way of sustaining vigor and constitution. 



Treatment of the Ram When in Service. 



Rams intended to do service in the breeding flock should 

 receive the most liberal treatment both as regard feed and 

 exercise. My experience has taught me that where they 

 have the run of a clover or rape patch during the night, 

 and are housed during the day, they do excellent service. 

 A ram will eat two quarts of oats a day with his usual 

 ration of rape, peas, oats, or whatever he may be getting 

 in the way of green stuff, without the least injury to his 

 constitution during the service season. How many ewes 

 a ram will serve in a single season without injury to his 

 constitution is a somewhat mooted question. There is no 

 doubt but what a ram if allowed the opportunity will serve 

 a greater number of ewes than is good for his constitution, 

 and what should ordinarily be allowed him. Where a ram 



