1062 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



7218 Out Opinion cf this s »■! qffttldtng, so warmly recommended by Sir J. Sinclair and A. Young, in the 

 husbandry of Scotland, coincides with thai of a very tuperioi Judge, who says, " thai uich a nut hod may 

 Ik- advantageous in particular i-.i-i— , It would be rash to deny ; but generally it is not advisable, either on 

 account of the sheep, or any alleged advantage from the manure they make As to the sheep, this driving 

 and confinement, especiallj In summer, would be Just as hurtful as raiding them in the 1 common way, and 

 it has been (buna thai their wool was much Injured by the broken litter mixing with the fleece in a* m in- 

 ner not to be easily separated ; besides, now that it is the great object of every skilful breeder to accelerate 

 thematurit] ol bu sheep, as well as other live stock; among other means, by leaving them to feed at 

 tin ir ea-e, and If circumstances permit, in small parcels i iticfi .1 practice as this can never he admissible 

 in their management ; and with regard to manure, there can be no dilliculty in converting into it any 

 quantity of straw, stubble, and (em, by cattle t^d in fold-yards, on green herbage in summer, and 

 turnips, or other succulent (bod, in winter ; while the soil, especially if it be of a light porous quality, 

 is greatly benefited both b) the dung and treading of sheep, allowed to consume the remainder of both 

 tort- ..I in »1 mi the ground It is true, that the dung of sheep has been generally supposed to be more 

 valuable than that ol cattle, but accurate experiments have not been made to determine the difference 

 in tins respect, among these and other polygastric animals. The greater improvement of pastures by 

 sheep is probably owing as much to their mode of feeding, as to the richer quality of their dung." 

 [Sup. L. B, it. art Agr.) 



Sect. VI. Of Fatting Sheep and Lambs. 



*7'.M9. The subject of Jutting sheep may be considered in regard to the age at which 

 fatting is commenced, the kind of food, and the manner of supplying it. 



The age at which sheep are fatted depends upon the breed, some breeds, such as the Leicester 

 maturing at an earlier age than others, under the same circumstances; and also in the abundance and 

 quality of the food on which they are reared ; a disposition to early obesity, as well as a gradual tendency 

 towards that form which indicates a propensity to fatten, being materially promoted by rich food, while 

 the young animals are yet in a growing state. On good land, the Leicester wethers are very generally 

 brought to a profitable state of fatness before they are eighteen months old, and are seldom kept for 

 fatting b >" id the age of two years : the Highland breeds, on the other hand, though prepared, by means 

 Of turnips, a year at least sooner than they could be in former times, usually go to the shambles when from 

 three to lour years old. The ewes of the lirst description are commonly fatted after having brought lambs 

 for three seasons, that is, after they have completed their fourth year, and those of the small breeds, at 

 from five to seven years of age, according to circumstances. [Sup. E. Brit, art Agr.) 



7221. The kinds of food on which sheep are fatted are good pastures, permanent or temporary; herbage 

 crops, as clovers, tares, &c. ; turnips and other roots ; and linseed cake, grains, or other edible refuse of 

 the oil manufactory, brewery, and distillery. 



7222. The mode qf feeding on rich pastures, herbage, and turnips has already been described when 

 treating of these crops ; and it remains only to notice the modes of using grains and oil cake. These, and 

 also bran, oats, peas, and other grains and meals, whether given in winter or summer, should always be 

 accompanied with pasture or dry food of some sort, especially hay. All food of this sort should be given 

 in moveable troughs, divided in the middle, so that the sheep may feed on each side, with a sloping roof 

 over them, so as to cover the sheep's heads and necks while feeding, as wet is not only prejudicial to the 

 sheep but spoils the food. A rack for hay, fixed over the trough, might probably be made to answer in 

 this intention, while it would be very convenient for holding that material and 'preventing waste. The 

 whole should be fixed on wheels and made to stand steady, and a sufficient number for the quantity of sheep 

 be always in readiness. In the fattening of wethers the use of barley meal, with grass or some "other sort 

 of green food, has likewise been found highly beneficial : and, when it can be procured at a reasonable 

 rate, should not be neglected, as it is quick in rendering them fat, and the mutton is excellent. A pound 

 Of Oil-cake or of meal per day, with hay or turnips, for each crone or wether, is reckoned a fair allowance 

 in Lincolnshire In the report of that county several instances of oil-cake feeding are given, by which it 

 appears that that sort of food fattens in a shorter time than any other, is the most suitable food for fatten- 

 ing old sheep, and a rapid promoter of the growth of the wool. 



. In fattening sheep as well as other animals, it should be made a rule never to allow them to lose 

 flesh, from tin- earliest age till they are sent to the butcher. It is found of much advantage, with a view 

 to speed] fattening as well as to the economy of food, to separate a flock into divisions, corresponding with 

 ill ages, uid the purpose of the owner as to the time of carrying them to market; and the 

 change from the food of .-.tore to tatting stock, from that which is barely capable of supporting the condi- 

 tion which they have already attained to that which is adapted to their speedy improvement in fatting, 

 ought to be gradual and progressive Thus very lean sheep are never, in good management, put to full 

 turnips in winter, nor to rich pastures in summer: thev are prepared for turnips in good grass land; 

 ""en "n l lie uter grass of mown grounds and kept on second year's 1: vs,and afterwards a moderate allow- 

 ance of turnips if they are fatted on pastures. It is a common practice, in the instance of the Leicesters, 

 to keep all that are not meant for breeding always in a state of fatness, and after full feeding on turnips 

 through winter and spring, to finish them on the first year's clover early in summer, when the prices of 

 meat are usually the highest 



!. Th 'fattening of lambs during summer requires nothing more than keeping their 

 mothers and them on the richest and best pasturage, and supplying such artificial food 

 as the situation, season, or other circumstances may require: but the fatting of lambs 

 during winter and spring requires attention to three tilings; the breed, or if any breed be 

 used indifferently, the period of dropping, the lamb-house, and the feeding. 



ct to th,- bred, as the sheep will take the ram at anv season, anv variety may be so 

 managed as to di.,p their lambs at any period of the year; but it is found by experience, that the Dorset- 

 slnri ' -'" : "?*« to yean, ami then-fore this is the sort generally employed in Middlesex for 



called house-lamb for the metropolis. The selection of the rams for breeding the lambs 

 to 1» hone red i-. ai • Midilleton, founded on the following circumstances :— I 'he sucklers, sales- 



men, and butchers of London are aware that such lambs as have sharp barbs on the inside of their lips 

 are certainly Ol a deep colour .-.Iter being butchered, and that all those whose barbs are naturally blunt 

 do as certain!' produce fail meal This knowledge has been the occasion of many lambs of the latter 

 kind being kepi for rams, and suit into Dorsetshire expressly for the purpose of improving the colour of 

 the flesh ot house-lambs | the issue ol such rams can generally be warranted fair, and such meat always 

 sells at a higher price ; hence arose the mistaken notien that Middlesex rams were necessary to procure 

 bouse-lambs. 



7 A tambJunue may be anv i Cow. house, or other spare house, or, even on a small scale, a 



roomy pigsty. Hut they are bu'dt on purpose by the extensive dealers in this article; and one to suckle 



from one hundred and sixtv to one hundred and eight] lambs at a time should be 601 ontj feel long and 

 eighteen feet broad, with three coops of different sizes at each end, so construct, d as to divide the lambs 



