[49] 



ewes and bucks to run together all the year is universal in 

 this State, and as long as that custom is persisted in, there 

 is no way -to prevent it. But if the farmer wishes to become 

 a successful sheep raiser he ought to pay attention to all the 

 minute details of the business. A very necessary one is to 

 separate the rams from the ewes at shearing time and keep 

 them apart until it is desired the ewes should be bred. A 

 flock of forty or fifty ewes requires only one buck when he 

 is properly used. A want of attention to this item involves 

 a loss of lambs by barren ewes. Merino ewes will begin to 

 breed at two years of age, but all other breeds will go the 

 first fall, though young ewes will not breed as certainly as 

 those two or more years old. 



A young buck is not a sure breeder. An aged ram is 

 much to be preferred. A ram in his second year may be 

 used to serve only a few ewes if he is very vigorous, for the 

 size and strength of a lamb depends on the size, strength 

 and age of the sire, as well as upon the condition of its dam. 

 A ram at three or four years old is at his prime ; from this 

 age all rams begin to get uncertain as breeders. Especially 

 is this the case when they have been allowed to run with 

 the flock. 



Fine blooded ewes should be kept away from the ram 

 until the second year, as earlier breeding materially inter- 

 feres with the improvement and growth of their progeny, as 

 well as stunts the ewes. 



If there is only a small flock of ewes kept on a place for 

 the purpose of raising fine breeds, it will be found very con- 

 venient, yes indispensable, to mark them in such a way as to 

 distinguish them afterwards. The following is a good way 

 to mark them : 



* 

 | 22 



1878. | 



The first figures relates to the number of the sheep, the 

 second relates to the year dropped. This band is inserted 

 4 



