150 A COLONY IN THE MAKING chap. 



After the ewes have arrived on a farm, some time 

 must elapse before they are ready to receive the tups, 

 for the native owner has rams running continuously 

 with his ewes, and it is advisable for all the resulting 

 lambs to be dropped before a regular lambing season 

 is instituted. This season usually takes place in the 

 months of April and May, and of October, November, 

 and December, when the grazing should be in the best 

 condition for milking ewes. 



It will be observed that the farmer can make use of 

 two seasons within the one year ; and while dealing 

 with his native and initial crosses he will probably 

 decide to do so. There has been no sign as yet that 

 constitution suffers in any way, though there certainly 

 is a presumption that in pure breds or advanced grades 

 the quality of wool will tend to deteriorate. In any 

 case, the larger increase is too attractive to miss, and 

 the practice even of the Government experimental 

 farms is to take two crops of lambs from grade ewes. 

 In order to maintain the two seasons, they must be 

 very carefully regulated. Ewes with lambs at foot will 

 take the tup at a month to six weeks after lambs have 

 been dropped. In order to carry out the system of 

 two seasons, such season cannot extend over a longer 

 period than six or seven weeks ; the tup must accord- 

 ingly be working among the ewes a clear fortnight at 

 least before the end of the season. These regulated 

 seasons must never be altered, and therefore the 

 temptation to continue the tupping season another 

 week at a time when the ewes are taking freely and 

 well must be firmly resisted. Newly-imported rams are, 

 more especially during their first season, uncertain 

 stock-getters. It is therefore a desirable practice to 

 run reliable rams with the ewes during the last week of 



