The Shepherds'' Guides 63 



care and attention ; and unless comfortable shelter 

 is provided for them, and an ample supply of 

 roots, bran, oil cake, &c. is laid up for the ewes, 

 only loss and mortification will be the conse- 

 quence. 



Even where lambs are meant to fall in April, 

 v/hich is quite as late as in our climate it ought 

 to be ; it will be found necessary to provide a 

 field of early sown rye, or of good rowen, for the 

 support of such ewes as yean in the beginning of 

 the month. Wiih some of the best English 

 farmers, care is taken that the lambs fall so early 

 as Christmas ; and the reason given for it is, that 

 at this season they abound in turnips, cabbages, 

 carrots, &c. for the support of the ewes : that 

 long before the winter is out, such lambs eat 

 hay, bran, &c. as well as the ewes : that when 

 intended for the butcher, they come very early to 

 market, and command a much better price ; and 

 that when kept as store sheep, they yield a very to- 

 lerable fleece, which in fine-wooUed sheep, secures 

 a considerable profit on the first year. To ap- 

 ply the same arguments ^o us, the lambs should 

 fall in November. It may be worth the attempt 

 which Chancellor Livingston has been making 

 for a year or two past, by suffering his rams to 

 run continually with the ewes. He will give us 

 the result of his experiments, but it must take 

 several years before the season, as it regards the 

 flock in general, can be thus completely changed. 



