1835.] 



FARMERS 1 REGISTER. 



221 



With regard to the besl time-fbr weaning lambs, 

 much depends upon the period, or season, when 

 they were yeaned. When a Iamb is to be kept for 

 breed in a good common pasture, it is the practice 

 in some counties to wean it at the end of 

 about tour months, in order that it may be- 

 come, strong, and that the ewe may acquire strength 

 and go quickly to blossom. In others, which are 

 more mountainous and poor, the lambs are wean-, 

 ed a month earlier. But whatever influence local 

 customs may have in this respect, this business 

 should be performed before the expiration of July; 

 and, as it is of essential importance to their future 

 growth, and consequently to the breeder's profit, 

 that due provision be previously made, it will be 

 proper to remove the lambs to a distance from the 

 ewes, to such fresh food as may be most convenient. 

 Clover, while in blossom, is the most forcing food; 

 sainfoin rowen may also be successfully employed 

 for the same purpose; but nothing is superior to a 

 sweet bite of fresh pasture-grass. On weaning 

 the young animals, their dams may be milked two 

 or three times, in order to relieve their udders, 

 which would otherwise become painful. 



When lambs have been once stinted in their 

 growth, either by disease or insufficient food, they 

 become what is technically termed sticky; after 

 which, although they may be in apparent health, 

 it is out of the power of art to fatten them. It is, 

 therefore, of the utmost importance both that the 

 ewes should have abundant food, in order to pro- 

 duce a flow of nutritious milk while they are suck- 

 ling; and also that the lambs should have plenty of 

 good pasture, or of other succulent green meat 

 when they are weaned. 



Various ages are mentioned as being most pro- 

 per for geldingthoee Iambs which are not intended 

 to be raised as rams for breeding; but the sooner 

 this operation is performed, the better it is for the 

 animal, which is more able to support it while 

 yountr, and running with the dam, and when there 

 is less danger to be apprehended from inflamma- 

 tion. The time best calculated for this purpose, in 

 the opinion of the most, experienced farmers and 

 breeders, is within the first, fortnight, unless the 

 lambs are unusually weak, in which case it will be 

 advisable to defer castration for two or three weeks, 

 or such longer term as may be expedient, till they 

 acquire sufficient strength. 



In grazing farms, in general, it is not only of 

 great importance to dispose, at certain times, of 

 such beasts as either become unprofitable, or are 

 sufficiently fat for sale, but also to separate the 

 stock and place them in different pastures, according 

 to their age and condition. In the southern coun- 

 ties of this island, the severing of sheep usually 

 takes place about six, eight, or ten weeks after the 

 shearing is finished, or in the course of the middle 

 of August. In making this selection great care 

 should be taken to choose, those only which give 

 indications of their being of the true breed (what- 

 ever that may be;) and, according to their com- 

 parative strength or weakness, to regulate their 

 pastures. Hence it will be proper to place those 

 animals which are designed for breeding or fatten- 

 ing by themselves: the ewes by themselves; the 



in autumn 10s. or 12s.: in spring from 30s. to 40s. per 

 acre; and, if the season be backward, that a farmer 

 who possesses it would not be induced to dispose of it 

 for a more considerable sum. 



wedder ov wether hogs, (i.e. males, whether cas- 

 trated or not, that are of one year's growth,) and 

 theaves, or females, that are two years old, by 

 themselves; and the old wethers and rams by them- 

 selves; and lastly, the lambs by themselves; other- 

 wise the stronger animals will injure such as are 

 w : ' . and prevent them from taking that food 

 which would be most beneficial for them. 



When a farm is thus stocked with a proper as- 

 sortment of sheep, it wiil be necessary for the 

 owner to inspect them often, particularly in the 

 winter; and, either to remove into better teed, or 

 to dispose of those which do not thrive upon their 

 allotted grounds; but, independently of these ex- 

 aminations, the shepherd ought constantly to con- 

 tinue with his charge, as they are liable to various 

 maladies, which, if" not speedily attended to, will 

 carry them off in a very short time. 



Before we close the present discussion respecting 

 the management of sheep, it may not be impro- 

 per to advert to one or two practices materially 

 connected with them. The first is that of docking, 

 or cutting their tails; which prevails not only in this 

 country, but likewise in Spain, Saxony, and, ge- 

 nerally speaking, in every district where the inhab- 

 itants pay much regard to the improvement of 

 wool-bearing animals. The tails are usually cut 

 when the Iambs are three or four months old;for, if 

 the operation were deferred beyond that time, it 

 could not be performed with safety to the animal. 

 This practice is objected to by some intelligent 

 breeders in England, on the ground that it renders 

 sheep unable to defend themselves against the at- 

 tacks of dies dining hot seasons: by otheis, how- 

 ever, it is strongly recommended, because it tends 

 to preserve the health of the animals, by keeping 

 them more clean from the odor which they, in a 

 great measure, deposite on the fleece, and gives the 

 animal a square, handsome appearance on the 

 hind quarter. It is very generally adopted, except 

 by some breeders in exposed situations, who, not 

 unjustly, conceive that the long bushy tail affords 

 considerable protection and warmth to the udder 

 of the e'wes in very severe weather. 



The other practice above alluded to is, that of 

 extirpating the horns of sheep; which has hitherto, 

 we believe, been confined to the sheep-walks of 

 Spain, and to the sheep-farm at Rambouillet, in 

 France. The. reasons assigned for it, and the man- 

 ner in which this operation is performed, are de- 

 tailed by M. Lasteyrie,* but we deem it unneces- 

 sary to insert them, as the practice is not likely to 

 be adopted in this country. 



In fine throughout the whole system of sheep 

 husbandry, the greatest attention is necessary, on 

 the part of the shepherd, regularly and frequently 

 to inspect the animals committed to his charge. 

 From the nature of his employment, which is usu- 

 ally exercised at a distance from his masters eye, 

 he is under but little control; the property in his 

 care is generally valuable, and always requires 

 the closest attention; the greatest circumspection 

 is therefore necessary in choosing an experienced 

 and trustworthy person for the office; but when 

 such an one is found, his services should not be 

 grudgingly remunerated. In Saxony the shep- 

 herds have not fixed wages, but are allowed a pro- 



236. 



Hisfoire de lTnfroduction des laines fines, Sec. p. 



