SHEEP FARMING IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 193 



remainder of the stock is dipped with oil and tobacco juice, at 

 a cost of 3d. per head. 



The tups are turned out about November 22nd, and taken 

 back about Christmas, from forty to fifty ewes being allotted to 

 each, and a few of the strongest or hardiest gimmers are also 

 tupped. Two or three of the better bred tups are mated with 

 choice lots of ewes in order to breed rams for future use. 

 During the winter the younger sheep are placed in the best 

 ground, and from each " hirsel " weakly animals are drawn, and 

 given hay and oats, if necessary. If the winter is open and the 

 pasture good, none except specially weak sheep require hand 

 feeding ; but if the winter is severe the younger " hirsels " get 

 a little hay, or a small daily feed of turnips, if these are raised 

 on the farm. Hand-feeding is considered a bad practice on 

 hill farms, and is only resorted to when it becomes a necessity. 

 The ewe and wether tegs are wintered separately, the former 

 on grass as much as possible, getting turnips for a month or 

 more in spring, while the wether hoggs are wintered on turnips 

 for about six months, at an expense of from 8s. to IDS. each. 



The cotton grass, or mossing, is ready to take them by the 

 end of March, and the hoggs are then dipped and sent on to 

 the cotton grass, which maintains them till the deer-hair and 

 other grasses come up in May. Lambing commences about 

 April 2oth. In May the lambs are branded with the farm and 

 hirsel marks, and the males are castrated at the same time. 



The above simple account of a year's sheep farming in 

 Sutherlandshire indicates that the number of events of interest 

 are few, and that the minute attention which is daily necessary 

 in an English flock is not required. The sheep, indeed, live an 

 independent and natural existence, exposed to many vicissitudes 

 during the long winter, and enjoying a free and happy life in 

 the summer. 



With regard to the number of sheep which a large Highland 



sheep farm will carry, Sciberscross, which is 39,000 acres in 



extent, is stocked with 6,000 sheep, and is rented at ^"1,390. 



Kinbrace, 30,000 acres in extent, carries about 5,000 sheep. 



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