CHAPTER XXII. 



MANAGEMENT OF A BEEED LARGELY ON GRASS, AND WITH FEW 

 CATCH CROPS ON THE ARABLE LAND. 



Lincoln. The Lincoln is typical of the heavier white-faced 

 long-wools originating on grass, and though it is well suited to 

 grazing, it has the faculty of doing well on arable land crops. It 

 is, in fact, well adapted to mixed farming of its native county 

 and those adjoining, though, except for the fen land, it has a 

 tendency to go northward rather than south. It does well on 

 ordinary upland grass or rich fens. Much that goes to the manage- 

 ment of Lincoln sheep is covered in the general description of the 

 management of a mixed flock, commencing with " The Sections 

 of the Flock." But the Lincoln passes more of its time on grass. 

 The lambing is arranged later to suit the appearance of grass ; 

 fewer catch crops are available in the spring ; and with later 

 lambing, and having in view the great value of the fleece, fewer 

 are sold out early in winter, and more are fattened out on grass 

 as shearlings, many being sold at the spring fairs to go on to rich 

 fen pastures for the latter purpose. The value of the Lincoln to 

 cross with the bigger Down breeds has been demonstrated very 

 clearly in recent years, and has been largely made use of. These 

 crosses can be got out earlier. The extent of the crossing is very 

 noticeable to those who remember the rare exceptions of thirty 

 years ago. 



Flushing the Ewes. The selling of fat hoggs begins about February, 

 and continues through spring, whilst the more backward ones are 

 run on to grass and are sold at big weights in summer. It is 

 customary to put the ram to ewes in the first or second week in 

 October, though in show flocks the ram is entered in early August, 

 to bring lambs at the beginning of the year, the thick of the fall 

 coming in February. The ewes are usually " flushed " by being 

 put on mustard or rape, but they are not as a rule run expensively 

 between weaning and this period, generally having secondary 

 keep, stubble runnings, and the following up of the lambs, or 

 second feedings. Through the pregnancy period they make 

 use of the stubbles, leys and general run of food, until December, 

 when they are put on turnips, again generally following the fattening 

 sheep, where, with the necessary dry food, they remain until a 

 few weeks before lambing, when they go wholly or partly on the 

 pastures, receiving trough food to get them into strong condition 



