152 SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



that perhaps few flock-masters trouble as to the precise age 

 of a lamb when it is weaned. One may be a full month older 

 than another when the order is given, and yet both must 

 share and share alike. " The season brings the flower again, 

 and brings the firstling of the flock," and on as near the 

 same day as possible the weaning takes place, as also does 

 the washing of the ewes and their shearing. 



Gradual weaning appears the best for both lambs and dams. 

 The severe system of taking away the ewes and placing them 

 on dry keep out of hearing of their bleating lambs is a plan 

 which is followed, especially when open grazing is the rule. 

 When sheep live much within hurdles and the lambs are 

 allowed to run forward before the ewes, a simple means of 

 weaning is to stop the runs for a few hours each day, and thus 

 gradually accustom both lambs and ewes to live without each 

 other. The lambs in this case have the first choice of the 

 " victuals," and the ewes may be held back on somewhat hard 

 keep, " eating the crusts," so as to dry up the flow of milk. 

 When treated judiciously little inconvenience seems to be 

 suffered on either side, the lambs being allowed to draw the 

 udders at increasingly long intervals, until they are weaned. 



