PREFACE. 



BRITAIN is the home of sheep breeds and the breeding place of 

 skilled flock-masters. There are soils, climates, and indigenous 

 stock, together with a wide range of husbandries, that enable 

 the breed-maker to build up types suitable to his home needs 

 and the world's requirements. Whilst this is so, the subject of 

 sheep must have wide interest, and no apology is needed for bringing 

 out a modern book on sheep. It was written just before the 

 outbreak of the great war. Sheep have become very dear, and 

 all kinds sell readily even the larger breeds. With prospective 

 high prices for a long time, some remarks may appear to be of 

 less force than they would have been, but some of the principles 

 I have advocated are only temporarily affected, and time will 

 readjust them. Much that was set out in my previous book, 

 " Sheep-raising and Shepherding," has been incorporated, in 

 slightly altered form, because many teachers of agriculture desired 

 that it should be, as it was convenient for their work. 



The general object has been to produce a book both practical 

 and suggestive. Personal experience in handling many breeds 

 in their native districts, and many when away from them, enables 

 me to write with a confidence I otherwise could not presume. 

 Although I have handled many Scotch sheep, I have not lived 

 on their native hills ; therefore I have to thank Mr. Anderson 

 who has had much experience with them on Scotch hills, and 

 who is now successfully engaged in developing new breeds in 

 Wales, for the reliable record he has set out. Mr. A. Mansell 

 and others among flock improvers, as well as those associated 

 with many flock books, have supplied information as I have needed 

 it, and I gratefully acknowledge their kindness. Captain Leeney, 

 A.V.C. (then Mr. Harold Leeney, F.R.C.V.S.), wrote an article 

 in the Journal of the R.A.S.E. on " The Lambing Pen," and this 

 in pamphlet form has been sold in vast numbers. Undoubtedly 

 hygienic principles at lambing time as a common practice date 

 from the publication of this paper, and thousands of ewes and 

 lambs are saved yearly as a result. I felt it would be greatly 



