380 



SHE 



S II E 



other seasons, but against lieat in 

 summer. Therefore the pastures 

 in which they feed, should have 

 trees in them, that they may repair 

 to their shadow in the hottest hours. 

 Clumps are preferable to single 

 trees, as they not only afford a cool 

 shade, but may screen the cattle 

 from the violence of rain and 

 storms, some of which happen in 

 the time of ^razirig. 



SHED, a slight roof or cover- 

 ing, of boards or other materials, 

 for temporary purposes. Where 

 boards are not easily obtained, sheds 

 may be covered with straw, which 

 will last a few years ; or with the 

 bark of trees, which wdl be far 

 more durable. 



SHEEP, a well known tame 

 animal. 



They multiply fast ; they are 

 subject to but tew diseases ni this 

 coujitry ; their llesh is excellent 

 food, and their wool of the greatest 

 importance to this natson ; in which 

 the woollen manufactory ought to 

 be encouraged, and ma) be carried 

 on to great advaritage. 



Mortimer says, " The farmer 

 should always buy his sheep from 

 a worse land than his own, and 

 th»*y should be big boned, and have 

 a long greasy wool. 



" For the choice of sheep to 

 breed, the ram must be young, 

 and his skin of the same colour 

 with his wool ; for the lambs will 

 be of the same colour with his 

 skin. Those ewes which have no 

 horns, are found to be the best 

 breeders." 



The farmers of Europe know 

 how to distinguish the age ofshee}; 

 by their teeth. When a sheep is 



one sheer, as they express it, that 

 is, has been sheared but once, or 

 is in its second year, it has two 

 broad teeth before : When it is 

 two shear, it will have four : When 

 three, six : When four shear, or in 

 its fifth year, it will have eight 

 teetli before. After this, their 

 mouths begin to break. 



" The fat pastures breed straight 

 tall sheep, and the barren hills 

 square and short ones. But the 

 best sheep of all, are those bred 

 upon new ploughed land, the rea- 

 son of which may be easily guessed, 

 as such land is commonly the most 

 free from bad grasses. 



" All wet and moist lands are 

 bad for sheep, especially such as 

 ate subject to be overflowed, and 

 to have sand and dirt left on them. 

 The salt marslies are ai. exception 

 from this general rule : For their 

 saltiiess makes amends for their 

 moisture; any thing salt, by reason 

 of t'lS drying quality, being of great 

 advantaue to sheep. 'Vhe best 

 time for sheep to yean, which go 

 twenty weeks with lamb, is in 

 April, unless the owner has any 

 forward grass, or turnips. Ewes 

 that are big, should be kept but 

 bare ; for it is dangerous for them 

 to he fat at the time of their bring- 

 ing; forth their young. They may 

 be well fed, indeed, like cows, a 

 fortnight beforehand, to put them 

 in heart." 



M. Buffon says, " One ram will 

 be sufficient for twenty-five or 

 iliirty ewes ; but that he should be 

 nmarkable for strength and come- 

 liness : That those which have no 

 iiornsare very indifferent: That the 

 head of a ram should be large and 



