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out it, as the memory will not do to trust. Good ewes for 

 breeding purposes are only second in importance to a good 

 ram; the latter gives quality to the entire flock, and the 

 former only to her own offspring. " Good sticklers make 

 good lambs " is only true in part, but with animals as pro- 

 lific as sheep there is no reason why a farmer should not 

 have all of his breeding ewes good individually as well as 

 good sucklers. A ewe should have a large body, broad hips, 

 a good feeder, and of gentle disposition. Never preserve, 

 as stock sheep, poor or weakly lambs, or ewes that do not 

 suckle well, or those that have weak constitutions, or ewes 

 that are restless, wandering bleating over the pasture. 

 Such animals should annually be eliminated from the flock, 

 fattened, and sent to the shumbles. While the ewe influences 

 only the lamb she produces, the ram influences more or less 

 the whole flock ; it is, therefore, doubly important to exer- 

 cise the utmost care and judgment in making suitable selec- 

 tions of bucks; indeed, it is a matter of prime importance. 

 The character of the sheep, the number and quality of the 

 lambs, depend to a great extent upon this choice. In 

 making this selection the shape of the animal and the 

 character of his wool should be taken into consideration 

 more than his size or weight. It is not always that the 

 large heavy fat rams are the best. They do well enough for 

 the fairs, and exhibitions of stock, but not for the harern. 

 We may here state that good thrifty-growing condition is 

 much more preferable for both ewes and rams than to have 

 them fat. Owing to the heat and flies, as well as short pastur- 

 age, sheep generally fall off in July and August, and when 

 mated in September are generally in good breeding condi- 

 tion. A ram, with all the work he can do, will re- 

 quire and should have rich stimulative food, in ad- 

 dition to his pasturage ; but the ewes should only 

 have good pasturage until a few weeks before lamb- 

 ing, when bran and oats should be given them. Should 

 mutton sheep be the desideratum, select one with rather 



