IQ2 SHEEP : BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



twelve months. He would take over from the way-going 

 tenant at valuation a flock corresponding to, say, 2,000 ewes. 

 In an ordinary year from seventy-five to eighty-five lambs are 

 nursed for every 100 ewes tupped, so that with the 2,000 ewes 

 there would be at least 1,500 lambs. The death-rate in 

 ordinary seasons is from 5 per cent, to 10 per cent. Taking 

 it at the higher figure, the incoming tenant would find 1,350 

 one-year-old sheep (say 675 gimmers and 675 dinmonts), 

 and in round numbers 610 two-year-old wethers, and 550 

 three-year-old wethers. He thus would commence with a 

 grand total composed as follows : 



2,000 ewes 

 1,500 lambs 



675 gimmers \ 



675 dinmonts } one-year-old sheep 



610 two-year-old wethers 

 550 three-year-old wethers 



6,010 



Besides two or three " turnip herds " there would be seven 

 shepherds on the farm, each having under his charge 500 ewes 

 and their lambs. The ewes would occupy the lower and 

 greener land, the others the higher and blacker. Clipping 

 commences with the " eild " sheep about the first week of June 

 and continues for a month the smeared sheep having been 

 washed immediately before. He sells his wool and his three- 

 year-old wethers, and, perhaps, his " shott " lambs and draft 

 ewes at Inverness Wool Fair, where he probably also sells his 

 wool. The weaning of lambs takes place in the last week of 

 July or first week of August. The worst lambs are sold, and 

 the remainder are grazed on the better pastures until the first 

 week in October, when they are sent for wintering either to an 

 arable farm on the south-east coast, or to Caithness, Ross, or 

 Moray, or elsewhere. 



The hill stock being thus lightened, the wethers occupying 

 the higher and colder grounds are smeared with a mixture of 

 tar and butter in equal proportions, with perhaps a little oil and 

 milk added, the cost being about 8d. to lod. a head. The 



