SELECTING SHEEP FOR AGRICULTURAL SHOWS. 39 



are considered desirable, as they heat the body and tend to 

 produce gouty acids and to derange the system ; and if given in 

 excess, the results will soon be seen in ricketty legs and a 

 shrunken appearance of the barrel. A small quantity of malt is 

 sometimes used ; but it must be given with great care, and it is 

 perhaps best left out of the dietary of breeding animals. One 

 of the difficulties to be overcome is to impress upon the shepherd 

 the fact that sheep grow and thrive better upon plenty of green 

 food, and good clover or sanfoin hay, with a moderate allowance 

 of corn, than with corn ad lib and a short supply of nature's own 

 food. How many breeders have had a good pen of ewes or a 

 valuable ram completely ruined by the injudicious use of too much 

 trough food. All young or inexperienced shepherds make this 

 great mistake ; and the watchful eye of the master should be ever 

 on the alert to counteract the tendency of the shepherd to use 

 artificials too freely. The most successful feeders of show sheep 

 are invariably warm advocates for a variety of green food ; using, 

 comparatively speaking, little else. 



As soon as March comes in, the sheep intended for exhibition 

 should be shorn ; but it will be far better for all concerned when 

 the Royal and other Societies abandon the rule as to shearing, 

 and leave the whole question in the hands of the Judges. It is 

 advisible to postpone shearing somewhat (at any rate, in the 

 case of Down breeds,) as it is too early to house aged sheep, 

 and they could not stand the inclement weather usually prevailing 

 at this period of the year if shorn. On no account wash the 

 sheep intended for exhibition before shearing, as it may, at such 

 an early period, cause death by chill. 



The sheep should, after shearing, have their feet carefully 

 looked to and pared; and again undergo a close examination, 

 with a view of finding if there are any that are too faulty for show 

 purposes. If they all pass muster, they must be divided into 

 small lots and pushed on (with judgment) as rapidly as possible; 

 as the summer meetings will soon be here, and no time must be lost. 

 Not more than three of the best rams should be put together, 

 they are still better alone, and the ewes say in two lots. Sheep 



