172 SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



not generally make a large or fine sheep ; nor will it, as he thought, 

 fatten so well as a lamb from a younger ewe. He made the same 

 observations on cows, sows, mares, and even bitches. 



There is an almost universal readiness to believe that by saga- 

 ciously crossing diiferent breeds, the best qualities of all may be 

 obtained in one, and the worst of any one hred out. But experiments 

 have not verified these speculative attempts, either with sheep or 

 cattle; and even if admitted to be practicable, it would require rare 

 skill, the fruit of great sagacity and experience, to carry it out suc- 

 cessfully. The prudent farmer, therefore, will do better, having first 

 made himself distinctly acquainted with the inherent peculiaritfes of 

 the different races within his reach, to make his choice of some par- 

 ticular one, which, under all circumstances, promises to pay best for 

 his outlay of attention and capital. Having done that, if a man of 

 pride and diligence, he will go on breeding systematically, until in a 

 few years he may be proud to exhibit his flock to the best judges. 

 Entering upon sheep husbandry with that feeling, he will be ''ex- 

 tremely careful in the first instance in the selection of his breeding 

 ram. Mr. Ellman, the distinguished English farmer and sheep- 

 master before referred to, recommends one ram for a flock of eighty 

 or one hundred ewes, unless a lamb ram be used, in which case he 

 advises only forty ev.-es. Great care should be taken that some bad 

 point in the form, or old stain in the blood of the ram chosen, does 

 not counterbalance the good points which it is desired he should 

 communicate to his progeny. He will reserve from his whole flock 

 the very best ewe lambs to the number necessary to keep up his re- 

 gular stock of breeding ewes; he will have his ram let to his ewes 

 on a given day, to ensure the yeaning of his lambs at the very season 

 which his best judgment tells him will be most advantageous; and 

 he will take care that his flock comes into the feeding yard in good 

 season and in good condition, well knowin<J- that accordincr to the 

 maxim of the shepherd, sheep well summered are alreadtj half win- 

 tered. He will be careful to sort out and get rid of all unthrifty and 

 unsightly individuals, and to ensure a flock of uniform healthiness 

 of condition and comeliness in the eye of the practised and sagacious 

 observer ; he will regularly sell olf all after a given age. It may be 

 as confidently remarked of sheep as it may of every production of 

 the animal and vegetable world, that to attain a high degree of ex- 

 cellence, it should be, not forced, but well kept, and never stinted in 

 infancy or during that period which nature has assigned to its growth. 

 Without careful attention to this, it is impossible to establish for any 

 flock of sheep the character of excellence. No after-management or 

 nourishment can eradicate the effects of neglect or short feed at this 

 period. It not only diminishes the frame, but impairs the constitu- 

 Tion. Hence, in regard to sheep, it is obviously necessary so to have 

 lambs yeaned at a season when the ewe may be well sustained with 

 what may [)e rfx|iiisite to ensure a good supply of milk, and that 

 snould consist of good sound clean hay, or well-cured corn-blades, 



