194 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



that single lesson, the secret of his mastery, and the propensity to exercise 

 it. The ram giving his blow from the summit of the parietal and the pos- 

 terior portion of the frontal hones on the top of the head, (and not from the 

 forehead,) couches his head so low when he makes his onset, that he does 

 not see forward well enough to swerve suddenly from his right line, and a 

 few quick motions to the right and left enable you to escape him. Run in 

 upon him, as he dashes by you, with pitchfork, club, or boot-heel punish- 

 ing him severely by blows, (about the head if the club is used,) and giving 

 him no time to rally until he is thoroughly cowed.* 



FENCES. Poor fences will teach ewes and wethers to jump, as well EUJ 

 rams, and for a jumping flock there is no remedy but immoderately high 

 fences, or extirpation. One jumper will soon teach the trick to a whole 

 flock, and if one by chance is bought in, it should be immediately hoppled 

 or killed. The last is by far the surest and safest remedy. 



SALT. Salt, in my judgment, is indispensable to the health of sheep, 

 particularly in the summer and I know not a flock-master among the hun- 

 dreds, nay, thousands with whom I am acquainted, who differs with me in 

 this opinion. It is common to give it once a week while the sheeo are at 

 grass. 



It is still better to give them free access to salt at all times, by 

 it in a covered box, open on one side, like the following: 



A large hollow log, 

 with holes cut along the 

 side, for the insertion 

 of the heads of the sheep 

 will make a respectable 

 substitute. A sheep hav- 

 ing free access to salt at 

 all times, will never eat 

 too much, and it will take 

 its supply when and in 

 what quantities Nature 



demands, instead of eat- SALTING-BOX. 



ing voraciously at stated 



periods, as intermediate abstinence will stimulate it do. When fed but 

 once a week, it is better to have a stated day, so that it will not be forgot- 

 ten, and it is well to lay the salt on flat stones, though if laid in little 

 handsfull on the grass, very little will be lost. 



TAR. This is supposed by many to form a very healthful condiment for 

 sheep. The nose of the sheep is smeared with it, and it is licked and 

 swallowed as the natural heat of the flesh, or that of the weather, causes it 

 to trickle down over the nostrils and lips. Others, suffering the flock to 

 get unusually salt hungry, place tar upon flat stones, or in troughs, and 

 then scatter salt on it, so that both shall be consumed together. ^ Applied 

 to the nose, in the nature of a cataplasm, I have no doubt that it is advan- 

 tageous in catarrhs and put on the same place, at the proper periods, it 

 may perhaps, by its odor, repel the visitations of the fly ((Estris ovisj, the 

 eggs of which produce the " grub in the head." As a medicine it may be 

 valuable, and evqn as a detergent in the case specified, but as a condiment 



* This may be pronounced harsh " measure for measure," and some may think it would tend 1 to increase 

 the viciousness of the animal. Repeated instances have proved the contrary to me. And if their mastery 

 is onca acknowledged, it is never forgotten by them. 



