DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 727 



M 4nt them to run over the back, nor do I like to see them too heavy over the 

 neok. Horns, if any, set well from the head, fore-top as long as the rest of the 

 fleece, down even with the eyes, then stop. Smooth, clear pink face and nose, 

 short, thick velvety ears, wool full length, well down on the legs, and full heavy 

 fleece on the belly. The foregoing is something of my ideal of a ram. 



IX. Time of Washing and Shearing and Putting Ewes and 

 Lambs by Themselves.—" My flock is well washed and sheared from the 

 15th to the 20th of June. They are turned on the largest range that I can 

 spare. The ewes and lambs by themselves, the bucks by themselves; the rest, 

 counted as store sheep, by themselves, making three flocks. From that time 

 till after harvest all the attention they get is salt once c week (twice or three 

 times I believe better), and all carefully counted. About the 20th of August I 

 wean the lambs, taking them as far from their mothers as I can. Generally 

 saving a piece of clover stubble for them, and giving them the best chance that 

 I can. About the first of October I commence giving them about a gill {]^ pt.) 

 of oats apiece daily. This is kept up until cold weather sets in, and then their 

 grain is increased about % more and kept up until grass grows the ne.\t spring, 

 They have a good shelter if they choose to occupy it. During storms they are 

 forced to their shelter. I feed clover hay twice a day, and water once a day, 

 and feed them grain at night. With this treatment my lambs are kept thrifty 

 all winter. I claim that the grain fed early in the fall is the secret of winter- 

 ing successfully. 



X. Time to Sort Out Breeding Ewes.— "About the first of Octo- 

 ber I sort my breeding ewes. In doing this important work, I have diverged 

 from the well established rules of breeders and made one of my own. Here I 

 would call the attention of the Institute to a statement made before the Insti- 

 tute one year ago, by our worthy president. He made this statement I 

 think: 'He raised all the lambs he could.' Now if he meant that he tried to 

 raise all that was born, then we do not differ, but if he meant that he tried to 

 increase his flock as fast as he could, then his line of policy and mine lie in a 

 different direction 



XI. His Rule. — "My rule is, in sorting for the breeding band, that none 

 shall be less than 2J^ years old, and none that are inferior as to size, constitu- 

 tion or thinness of wool My year-old ewes are turned with the wethers; and 

 the older ones that have been excluded from the breeders are marked for sale. 



XII. The Result.— "The result of this policy is a large and uniform 

 flock, with strong constitutions and heavy sheerers. 



Xni. Average Weight.—" I have just weighed three of my breeders, 

 which is the fair average weight of the lot of 30. The heaviest weighed 140 

 lbs., the lightest TOO lbs , a pick of the average 116 lbs. 



XIV. Land Too Valuable to Keep Inferior Sheep.— "Our 

 lands are too valuable to keep inferior sheep, or to try to increase in numbers 

 at the expense of size and quality. 



XV. Time to Divide in the Fall.— "My flock of 80 are divided 

 from October, until they axe brought into the yard in three lots, breeders, store 



