MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 223 



the reception of the flock at such times. Before turning the sheep 

 to pasture, their feet should be trimmed. They should not be 

 allowed to monopolize the pastures at the moment a few green spears 

 of grass are seen. Not only will the pastures suffer on that ac- 

 count, but the sheep also. As the weather becomes warm the 

 shepherd should be on the lookout for the deadly work of the blow- 

 fly and also the gad-fly. Where sheep are properly dipped the for- 

 mer does not cause the annoyance it does where dipping is not 

 attended to. To prevent the attacks of the gad-fly, it is a good 

 plan to bore holes in a log with a good sized augur and fill the holes 

 with salt and then smear the log with tar in such a way that the 

 sheep cannot rub it off on their sides, but yet allow them to reach 

 it with their mouths. In trying to get at the salt their noses be- 

 come daubed with tar, which keeps the gad-fly at a distance. It 

 is a great mistake for the shepherd to think that when sheep are 

 turned to pasture his duties cease until fall. Darkening the sheep 

 barn during the heat of the day is a help toward warding off the 

 persistent attack of the gad-fly. Sheep attacked by maggots are 

 easily relieved by an application of lime or gasoline or any of 

 the carbolic or tobacco dips. As soon as the maggot is destroyed 

 a little vaseline will tend to heal the wound. Sheep eat a great 

 deal of salt when on green pastures, therefore sho-uld be abundantly 

 supplied with this necessary adjunct to good health. 



PALL CARE. 



Fall is a critical time for the flock, and a busy time for the 

 shepherd, since mating and such-like matters have to be attended 

 to. Unless the flock is well taken care of at this season heavy 

 losses are likely to occur. Fall storms are bad for the flock. Warm 

 showers won't hurt sheep, but cold rains will, and when such are 

 in evidence the flock should be housed, but not too closely, that is, 

 ventilation must be attended to. To house a flock when wet is to 

 encourage such diseases as catarrh, etc. The ram needs special 

 care at this season of the year, as the result of the lamb crop 

 depends a good deal on how he is treated at this season. No mat- 

 ter how good the grass may appear to be in the fall, a little grain 

 will not be out of place, as fall pastures are always more or less 

 watery and innutritions. The ewes should never be allowed to run 

 down in the fall, but should be kept in moderately good condition. 

 A falling off in condition is one of the causes of abortion in the 

 flock. It is important that the flock go into winter quarters in as 

 good shape as possible. Sheep should always be kept from frozen 

 clover, or rather when the frost is on it, as such not only injures 

 the sheep but the clover as well. The stubble- field is not a bad 

 place to run the ewes on at this season of the year. Fall losses 

 are a species of ill luck for which the shepherd is often responsible. 



