AGE OP SHEEP. 83 



lumps of dirt, thorns, straw, &c. picked off Each fleece 

 is then rolled up tightly, the sides being turned in, and 

 the roll made from the tail to the neck, where a lock 

 of wool is pulled out to a sufficient length, to wind 

 round and fasten the fleece. If not well examined, bits 

 of dirt, <fcc. are apt to be rolled up in the fleece, and 

 the buyer justly complains, for these things add to the 

 weight. 



In former years, when the demand for mutton was 

 not so great as at present, sheep were seldom killed 

 before five or six years old, their fleeces being the chief 

 object with the farmer. This is still the case in many 

 countries ; but with ourselves it is much altered. Sheep 

 are now so quickly fattened by means of the turnip 

 husbandry, and so much improved in general, that they 

 are brought to market within two years, or two and a 

 half. Nevertheless it has been said, that this hastening 

 of the maturity of sheep " converts the food into fat, 

 and gives nothing to gravy." The natural age of the 

 sheep is about nine or ten years, but in the sixth year 

 the teeth begin to fail, and the animal, unable to mas- 

 ticate its food properly, soon loses flesh. The sheep's 

 age is commonly reckoned from the first shearing not 

 from the birth. It may be known by examining the 

 fore teeth of the lower jaw, of which they have eight, 

 the upper jaw being without any in front. For the 

 first year these teeth are very small ; but in the second 

 year the first two are renewed, and two more every year 

 until the fourth, when they are what is called " full- 

 mouthed." Young sheep are considered fit for the mar- 

 ket soon after their first shearing ; that is, when they 

 are one year and three months old. But if not in good 

 condition at that time, they are kept upon the farm 

 until they have yielded one more fleece, and are sold in 

 the following spring. 



Throughout the summer, the pastures yield the chief 

 supply of food to the flocks, but towards the end of 

 October, or beginning of November, these begin to fail ; 

 G 2 



