4:2 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



both by a stinting of food and by the nervous irritation conse- 

 quent upon their sudden deprivation. The dams in full flow of 

 milk, thus at once deprived of the means of relief, are subjected 

 to the engorgement of the udder, with the consequent congestion 

 of all the organs connected therewith. This shock is very injuri- 

 ous, and frequently produces inflammatory disorders of the blood 

 or garget. To avoid these ill effects of the sudden change, it is 

 well to remove the lambs to a distant pasture, along with some 

 dry ewes or wethers for company. The novel experience of a 

 fresh pasture will cause them to forget then- dams, and they will 

 utter no complaints nor manifest any uneasiness. At night they 

 should be turned into the fold with the ewes, whose full udders 

 they will speedily relieve. By withdrawing any extra feed hith- 

 erto given to the ewes, somewhat gradually, (in no case is it wise 

 to make a sudden change in the management of sheep), their sup- 

 ply of milk will gradually decrease, and in two weeks the whole of 

 the lambs may be weaned with perfect safety to themselves and 

 the ewes. 



After having been weaned, the lambs should have the first 

 choice of pasture and the best and tenderest cuttings of the fodder 

 crops. Many farmers have found it advantageous in every way 

 to turn newly weaned lambs into a field of corn in the month of 

 August. The corn is too far grown to be injured, the suckers 

 only will be nibbled by the lambs, and the weeds which grow up 

 after the corn is laid by, will be eaten closely. The lambs also 

 have the benefit of a cool shade, and where such a field can be 

 conveniently applied to this purpose, there are several reasons 

 why it might well be done. 



The condition of the ewes must not be neglected at this time. 

 The chief danger is in regard to those that are heavy milkers. 

 Such sheep should be closely watched, and the milk drawn by 

 hand from those whose udders are not emptied by the lambs. 

 The first approach to hardness or heat in the udder should be 

 remedied by an immediate dose of an ounce of epsom salts dis- 

 solved in water, and mixed with a teaspoonful of ground ginger. 

 The next two days 20 grams of saltpeter should be given each 

 morning and evening, to increase the action of the kidneys. These 

 remedies will generally relieve the udder, and will tend to greatly 

 reduce the secretion of milk. If hay is given in place of grass, 

 and the ewe confined in a cool darkened pen, the drying up of the 

 milk will be hastened. 



As the improvement of the flock can be better made from within 

 than by giving the sole attention to bringing new blood from 



