SHEEP ^1 



On light arable farms sheep are absolutely 

 necessary, as their constant manuring of these 

 poor soils is the only means by which corn crops 

 can be profitably grown on them. Further 

 advantages are that mutton usually sells for 

 more than beef, and moreover, sheep give 

 wool. 



Flock Management — In describing the 

 system of management of sheep, we will assume 

 a permanent flock in early July. In addition to 

 the flock of ewes, at this period there will be the 

 lambs born this year, and also some shearlings 

 from last year's crop of lambs. The first thing 

 to be done is the drafting of the ewe flock, that 

 is to say, the removal from the flock of all ewes 

 that, for one reason or another, such as age, 

 disease, etc., are not suitable to remain. These 

 drafted ewes are sent to the market and sold, 

 and their places taken by the best shearling 

 ewes available. If there are not enough good 

 shearlings to make up the number of the flock, 

 then a bunch should be bought in, at a deplen- 

 ishing sale if possible, rather than use indifferent 

 shearlings, as poor quality in a ewe is passed on 

 from generation to generation, and it costs as 

 much to keep poor stock as good, yet the 



