Book VII. MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 1005 



double the number, the ewes also are drawn out and assorted, and such a ram appropriated 

 to each lot, as possesses the properties in form or fleece in which the ewes are deficient. In 

 other cases, the best ram and the best lot of ewes are put together. When neither of 

 these arrangements can be adopted, owing to the want of inclosures, it is the practice to 

 send the best rams to the ewes for a few days at first, and those of an inferior description 

 afterwards. In every case, when the farmer employs rams of his own flock, he is careful 

 to have a few of the best ewes covered by a well formed and fine-woolled ram, for the 

 purpose of obtaining a number of good ram-lambs, for preserving or improving the 

 character of his stock. 



6453. The stock through winter, in a mere breeding farm, consists of ewes and gimmers, which should 

 have lambs in spring ; ewe lambs or hogs ; and a few young and old rams. All these are sometimes 

 allowed to pasture promiscuously, but on the farms around Cheviot, the ewes and ewe hogs are kept 

 separate, and the ewe hogs are either put on rough pastures, which have been lightly stocked in the latter 

 end of summer, or get a few turnips once a day, in addition to the remains of their summer pasture. 

 The most effectual preventive of the desolating distempers to which sheep of this age are liable, is turnips; 

 and though they should never taste them afterwards, a small quantity is frequently given them during 

 their first winter. After the rams have been separated from the ewes, they are usually indulged with the 

 same feeding as the hogs. 



6454. The eives, during winter, are seldom allowed any other food than what their summer pasture affords, 

 except that a small part of it may sometimes be but lightly eaten, and reserved as a resource against 

 severe storms. When these occur, however, as they often do in the Cheviot district, there is little depen- 

 dence on any other food than hay. When the snow is so deep as completely to cover the herbage, about 

 two stones avoirdupois of hay are allowed to a score of sheep daily, and it is laid down, morning and 

 evening, in small parcels on any sheltered spot near the house, or under the shelter of stalls or clumps of 

 trees, on different parts of the farm. 



6455. The ewes in March, at least the gimmers or young ewes, are commonly allowed 

 a few turnips once a day, on farms on which there is any extent of arable land ; which 

 are either carted to their pastures, or eaten on the ground, by bringing the sheep to the 

 turnip field through the night. A part of the field, in the latter case, is cut off by nets, 

 or by hurdles, which inclose the sheep in the same way as if they were intended for 

 fattening. When they are ready to drop their lambs, they are no longer kept on the 

 turnip field, and get what turnips may be left on their pastures. But it is seldom that 

 the turnips last so long, though it is desirable to have a few remaining to be given to the 

 weakest ewes, or to such as have twins, in a separate inclosure. 



6456. A few days before the time of lambing, the ewes are collected for the purpose 

 of being udder-locked. The sheep are raised upon their buttocks, their backs next to 

 the operator, who then bends forward and plucks off the locks of wool growing on or 

 near the udders, for the purpose of giving free access to the expected lambs. At the 

 same time he ascertains the condition of the ewes, and marks such as do not appear to be 

 in lamb, which may then be separated from the others. This, operation is not without 

 danger, and several premature births are usually the consequence. It is therefore not so 

 general a practice as it was formerly, though still a common one on noiany, if not on 

 most farms. 



6457. 7'he separation of the hogs from the ewes, where these have been allowed to pasture 

 promiscuously, should always take place at the commencement of the lambing season, 

 and the lowest and finest part of the pasture exclusively appropriated to the nursing ewes. 

 On the Cheviot hills' the hogs are generally pastured apart on the coarser herbage. 



6458. The lambing season commences with the first or second week of April, according 

 to the time at which the rams were admitted ; and such as have twins, generally lamb among 

 the first of the flock. At this season, the most constant attention is indispensable on the 

 part of the shepherds, both to the ewes in labor, and to the newly dropped lambs. 

 Though the Cheviot ewes are not so liable to losses in parturition, as some larger breeds 

 which are in higher condition, and though they make good nurses, unless they are very 

 lean, and their food scanty, yet, among a large flock, there are always a number that need 

 assistance in lambing, and in a late spring not a few who have not milk suflRcient for their 

 lambs, particularly among the gimmers or young ewes. A careful shepherd at this time 

 always carries a bottle of milk along with him, which he drops from his own mouth into 

 that of the lamb that may need it ; brings the ewes that have little milk to a better 

 pasture, or to turnips, and confines such as have forsaken their lambs in a small pen, or 

 barrack as it is called, temporarily erected in some part of the farm-steading. The same 

 confinement is necessary when it is wished to make a ewe that has lost her own lamb, 

 nurse that of another ewe that has had twins, or that has perished in lambing, or is from 

 any other cause incapable of rearing her lamb. The ewe after being shut up a few 

 hours with the strange lamb, usually admits it to the teat, and ever after treats it as her 

 own ; though sometimes a little deception is necessary, such as covering the stranger 

 with the skin of her own lamb. At this important season, an inclosure of rich early grass, 

 near the shepherd's cottage, is of vast advantage. Thither he carries the ewes and twins, 

 such as have little milk ; those that have been induced to adopt another's oflTspring; and 

 generally, all that need to be frequently inspected, and are in want of better treatment 

 than the rest of the flock. (Suj)]). <*-c. 178.) 



6459. Castration is performed in the male lambs when a few days old, the ewe lambs 



