APPENDIX. 



233 



usually cost about Is. 6d. a-piece. They are shifted 

 to fresh ground daily, being sloped outwards, and 

 propped together by means of forked sticks, driving a 

 stake through between the bars here and there to keep 

 the hurdles firm, and prevent the wind from blowing 

 them over, little support being derived from their feet, 

 which are j)ressed but slightly into the ground. All 

 branches of trees are carefully removed from the hur- 

 dled grounds before the sheep are driven in, to prevent 

 any of the latter being staked ; the hurdles too are 

 never pitched where ant hills are, or under a tree 

 with rotten boughs upon it, while the trees with black 

 bark are carefully denuded thereof, to prevent dis- 

 colouration of the wool." Bells are attached to the 

 necks of the stoutest leaders, to keep the flock together, 

 and give warning of any thing going wrong within the 

 fold. 



The breeding season is, in some instances, at the 

 commencement of summer, in others, at the commence- 

 ment of winter, but in general it is in March or April, 

 the rams having been put to the ewes in October. 

 This deviation from our practice of spring lambing, is ow- 

 ing, according to Mr Cunningham, to the breeders find- 

 ing that the pasture is particularly good in the autumn, 

 from a sort of second spring taking place, while the 

 lambs stand the cold better than the heat, and are less 

 annoyed by the gad-flies. The sheep usually double 

 their number every four years. 



Sheep-shearing takes places at the beginning of 

 summer. The usual plan of washing is previously had 

 recourse to (see paragraph 99.), but of late it has be- 

 come customary, with some proprietors, to wash them 



