THE MANAGEMENT OF EWKS UP TO LAMBING. 251 



better food. Mr. De Mornay always drafts when the ewes are 

 turned four years old. According to the old system they will 

 have produced three crops of lambs ; by this plan they will go 

 away at the same age, but will have yielded a fourth crop. Of 

 course, climate and soil should be favourable for early and rapid 

 development. That this is rather specially the case at Col 

 d'Arbres may be gathered from the fact that the wether lambs 

 are sold for the butcher when from seven to nine months old, 

 averaging fully 241b. a quarter. 



The ewes should be in fair condition and mending whilst with 

 the ram. If they are low in condition the result will be a large 

 proportion of singles ; whereas, if fresh, doubles are more 

 numerous. The nature of the soil as affecting the quality of 

 the food influences the result. The Shropshires are, probably,, 

 the most prolific breed we have ; yet we have known instances 

 where they lost their great fecundity on a change of situation^ 

 and therefore we are inclined to believe that soil has a good 

 deal to do with the produce. Great mistakes are sometimes- 

 made by forcing on po6r ewes just at the time they are placed 

 with the ram ; in such cases blood is made so fast that the ewes 

 are almost certain to turn. An unlimited supply of rape is 

 oaid to have this effect ; although an occasional fill of this- 

 valuable crop answers well if the ewes have been properly 

 prepared. 



The ordinary practice of allowing the ram to run with 

 the ewes may be altered in the case of very valuable or 

 heavy sires ; for such the ewes should be stocked, the ram 

 being kept up in a shed. In this way old sheep are found 

 useful, and more certain in their work. During the day the 

 ewes are allowed to range over the seeds which are to be 

 ploughed, and on the grass land ; and at night they are folded 

 on rape, or mustard, or early turnips. In some cases the 

 stubbles, where grass occurs, afford a healthy change. After 

 about eight weeks the rams are removed, and the ewes are 

 placed behind the fatting or stock sheep, as the case may be, 

 in order to clear up the food that might otherwise be wasted; 

 very few turnips sufiice, and much good sweet straw will be 

 eaten with advantage. 



The folly of the practice, formerly so common, of stuffing 



