Winter Care and Feeding. 43 



their eyes are affected, a white film covers them, 

 and they become blind. It is often from two to 

 three weeks before their eyes get well, and many 

 flockowners have been quite alarmed at this trou- 

 ble. Sheep that are affected in this way should 

 be isolated from the flock and kept in the barn, 

 not in a draught, until their eyes get well. A few 

 drops of raw linseed oil put on the sore eyes once 

 a day will help them heal. 



GESTATION PERIOD OF EWES. 



Records have been kept at this Station which 

 show that the length of time that ewes carry their 

 lambs varies considerably. These records have 

 been kept for all the breeding ewes in the Station 

 flock, including many different breeds. The date 

 of service of each ewe, as well as the date of lamb- 

 ing, has been recorded. These records, which ex- 

 tend over a period of about twenty-four years, show 

 ihat the fine wool breeds seem to require a longer 

 gestation period than other breeds. Next to the 

 fine wools may be placed the Cheviots. The aver- 

 age gestation period of about 1500 ewes on record 

 was from 146 to 147 days. The largest per cent 

 of ewes have lambed at 146 days. In many in- 

 stances Merinos have required a period of from 

 150 to 154 days, and Cheviots in many cases a 

 period of from 146 to 151 days. Whenever a ewe 



