130 SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



1. A yard of ewes heavy in lamb. 



2. ,, ,, with single ewe lambs. 



3. with single ram lambs. 



4. with twins. 



5. and very young lambs. 



The older lambs, with their dams, are, when from four to 

 seven days old, allowed to go out upon the turnips, and it 

 is interesting to watch these young creatures learning to fend 

 for themselves, and imitating their mothers in their eating, 

 choosing the softer parts of the turnips, nibbling at the rape 

 or turnip greens, or sorting out the choicer portions of the 

 hay. 



Lambs ought to be provided with a corner for themselves 

 at an early age. A few hurdles should be placed around so 

 as to include some small troughs in which is placed a mixture 

 of split peas, bruised oats, and finely-ground cake. Admit- 

 tance is given to this enclosure by means of lamb hurdles, 

 which, while allowing of the ingress of the lambs, is a bar to 

 the larger-sized ewes. 



The lambing pen having been constructed, and all arrange- 

 ments made for the arrival of the lambs, we shall now give 

 our attention to the important subject of parturition. 



Sheep, although able to withstand the vicissitudes of our 

 changeable climate, and to resist the injurious effects of a 

 damp bed and night air, are nevertheless easily " upset." 

 They are, so to speak, as hardy as the hares which play 

 around them as long as they are well ; but, for all that, no 

 domestic animal gives way more suddenly and more hope- 

 lessly when attacked by disease. 



A flock of ewes resting upon frozen ground, placidly chew- 

 ing the cud, while the snow wreaths are forming around 

 them, give the idea of extreme hardihood, and when the 

 frost and snow are exchanged for mud and driving rain, the 

 beholder may well feel astonished at the quiet indifference of 

 these creatures to the most rapid changes of meteorological 

 surroundings. Sheep are, however, liable to many diseases 



