110 BRITISH SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. 



is not always convenient to have this attached to the lambing 

 pen, but it should be arranged that where they feed, even if a 

 fresh piece is given daily, the hurdles are not kept within too close 

 quarters. It is important to place the fold on a dry, solid field, an 

 old ley being very suitable ; if on a hill-side facing the south, so 

 much the better. Subdivisions may be added. A fair number 

 of subdivisions make the shepherding easier, as the sheep are 

 more quickly handled. 



The Shepherd's Requirements in the Lambing Pen. A soldier 

 cannot take the field unarmed, and a shepherd equally requires 

 appliances, lotions, etc., to help him battle with the difficulties 

 before him. The cow will supply the milk necessary for the lambs, 

 which otherwise would not get sufficient. The cow should be 

 neither too freshly calved nor too stale. The hut should be 

 provided with a small stove to supply warmth, care being taken 

 that the fumes can escape readily, as many shepherds have been 

 suffocated by closing ventilating apertures on cold nights. The 

 stove will heat the milk, warm the necessary water, fry the 

 shepherd's rasher, and warm his billy, whatever it may contain. 

 The vessel in which the milk is boiled should be made on the glue- 

 pot system a smaller one inside a larger one containing water to 

 keep the milk from burning. 



Among other things which he will have to provide are a ball each 

 of string and stout tape. In those cases where it is desired that 

 the string shall not slip, tarred cords are convenient. These are 

 required for securing to the legs of lambs during malpresentations, 

 for binding the side of the shape in cases of eversion, and for many 

 other purposes during the course of the lambing season. Ruddle 

 or ochre of several colours is required to make distinguishing 

 marks. In pedigree flocks ear-markers may be used with advantage, 

 to prevent ultimate confusion. 



The shepherd will also need one or more drenching horns or 

 bottles (an old sauce bottle with strong, long neck is very con- 

 venient) ; a cordial for chilled or weakly lambs (equal parts of 

 brandy and sweet spirits of nitre) ; a bottle of diarrhoea or scour 

 mixture (Mr. Leeney advises 1 oz. of trisnitrate of bismuth, J oz. of 

 powdered catechu, 1 oz. of powdered chalk, 1 oz. of laudanum, and 

 sufficient peppermint water to make 20 fluid ounces ; give one 

 teaspoonful to very young lambs, adding another for each fort- 

 night) ; a bottle of laudanum (to be used carefully and sparingly) ; 

 a bottle of castor oil (in cases of constipation) ; a good knife (curved 

 inwards at the point) ; Glover's needles and thin tape (for use in 

 cases of eversion), and such other appliances as the shepherd 

 understands the use of (which are generally very few) ; some 

 vinegar with blue vitriol in solution (to dress the feet of lambs or 

 ewes which have become raw through being on wet litter, etc.) ; 



