THE COST OF KEEPING A SHEEP. 



2O3 



The cost of keeing a ewe I therefore find to be i 55. njd. 

 per annum. The lamb has been assumed to cost 3d. per 

 week from birth to weaning time on June ist, or for seven- 

 teen weeks, 45. 3d., and the cost of the couple is seen to be 

 i los. 2jd. 



A fairly kept ewe and her lamb will, therefore, be kept on 

 mixed arable and grass farms, such as abound in the chalk 

 and oolite formations, for about 303. From this sum it is 

 % customary to deduct the fleece of the ewe, which varies with 

 the weight, and cannot be taken at more than 45. or 53. 

 Thus the net cost under the system of treatment indicated 

 will be from 265. to 275. per annum, and the amount of 

 profit depends upon the price of lambs. This varies exceed- 

 ingly. In July lambs may be worth 305., or even 405., in 

 which case the flock has certainly paid well, but in seasons 

 such as 1893 tnev are difficult to dispose of, even at prices 

 which it would be misleading to quote. 



