CHAPTER XXV. 



GENERAL FEATURES IN SHEEP MANAGEMENT. 



The diseases of sheep are treated subsequently by a veterinary 

 expert whose qualifications and experience warrant the greatest 

 confidence ; and with a preciseness and conciseness which, as a 

 layman, I could not profess ; consequently, such remarks as may 

 be made on the ailments here are merely such as arise in the 

 daily course of management, and which assail the shepherd or 

 flockmaster in the ordinary routine of farming ; and which influence 

 the management of sheep in the ordinary course of their work. 

 Many points have necessarily been dealt with in the foregoing 

 pages, but there are some of these which can be more conveniently 

 dealt with at greater length than is advisable in sections where a 

 consecutive narrative of certain aspects in sheep farming is being 

 set out. 



The Sheep Farmer. A good sheep farmer is generally a good 

 all-round farmer, for no class of farm stock requires closer attention 

 or more skilful management than sheep. Moreover, he must be a 

 skilled tiller of the land, as the ability to secure suitable crops at 

 all seasons proves he has his arable land well under control. When 

 these are ensured, sheep farming is generally one of the most 

 profitable sections of the farm. The sheep farmer must always 

 look ahead well to provide crops for all divisions of his flock ; 

 and in unfavourable seasons must be resourceful, so that if some 

 portions of the food he might reasonably rely on prove to be failures, 

 he may devise means which will enable him to carry his flock 

 through a critical period. Such occasions occur frequently, and 

 if the farmer has made no special provision, the sheep have to be 

 sold in a bad market, and subsequently he has to buy in again 

 on unfavourable terms. As a rule, the sheep management through- 

 out a district varies very little in broad principles, although there 

 is often considerable variation in the details. What appear to 

 be minor details frequently make all the difference between profitable 

 and unprofitable sheep -keeping. The customs of districts are 

 generally sound, as they are the outcome of a long experience, 

 which has shown what is best under the particular conditions of 

 soil and climate ; it is, therefore, unwise to make profound changes 



