1054 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



7150. In breeding from two distinct races, the object is to acquire new properties or remove defects. 

 The mode of effecting this by cross breeding is attended with greater difficulties than in breeding from 

 the same race. The very distinction of breeds implies a considerable difference among animals in several 

 respects; and although the desirable property be obtained, it may be accompanied by such others as are 

 by no means advantageous to a race, destined to occupy a situation which had excluded that property 

 from one of its parents. To cross any mountain breed with Leicester rams, for example, with a view to 

 obtain a propensity to fatten at an early age, would be attended with an enlargement of size, which the 

 mountain pasture could not support ; and the progeny would be a mongrel race, not suited to the pastures 

 of either of the pi'esent breeds. If the object be to obtain an enlargement of size, as well as a propensity 

 to fatten, as is the case when Cheviot ewes are crossed with Leicester rams, the progeny will not prosper 

 on the hilly pastures of their dams, and will be equally unprofitable on the better pastures of their sires. 

 But the offspring of this cross succeeds well on those intermediate situations on the skirts of the Cheviot 

 hills, where, though the summer pasture is not rich, there is a portion of lowland for producing clover 

 and turnips. {Supp. Encyc. Brit, art Agr. &;c.) 



7151. As general rules in crossing breeds, it is to be noticed that in every case where the enlargement of 

 the carcass is the object, the cross breed must be better fed than its smaller parent. The size of the pa- 

 rents should also be but little disproportioned at first ; and when some increase has been produced, one or 

 more crosses afterwards may raise the breed to the required size. With these precautions, there is little 

 reason to fear disappointment, provided both parents are well formed. {General Report of Scotland, 

 vol. iii. p. 14. 18.) 



7152. The most advantageous and proper age for ewes taking the ram in the different breeds has not 

 been fully shown ; but from a year to a year and a half old may be sutHcient, according to the forward- 

 ness of the breed and the goodness of the keep. Some judge of this by the production oi broad or sheep's 

 teeth. It should not be done while too young in any case. Ewes commonly bring their first lamb when 

 two years old ; in the hilly and mountainous districts of Scotland commonly not for a year after. Of 

 course, they are usually eighteen or nineteen months old when they take the ram, throughout all the 

 lowland districts. 



7153. In regard to the season of putting the rams to the ewes, it must be directed by the period at which 

 the fall of the lambs may be most desirable, which must depend on the nature of the keep which the par- 

 ticular situation affords; but the most usual time is about the beginning of October; except in the Dor- 

 setshire ewes, where the intention is suckling for house-lamb, in which case it should be much earlier, 

 in order that the lambs may be sufficiently forward. But, by being kept very well, any of the breeds will 

 take the ram at a much earlier period. Where the rams are young, the number of ewes should seldom 

 exceed sixty for each ram ; but in older rams a greater number may be admitted without inconvenience, 

 as from one to two hundred; but letting them have too many should be cautiously avoided, as by such 

 means the fanner may sustain great loss in the number of the lambs. 



7154. With respect to the period of gestation, the ewe goes with lamb about the space of five months, 

 consequently the most common lambing season is March, or the early part of April ; but " it has been 

 observed that in many of the more southern districts, where sheep-husbandry is carried on to a consi- 

 derable extent, some parts of the ewe-stock are put to the rams at much earlier periods, so as to lamb a 

 month or six weeks sooner ; a practice which is attended with much profit and advantage in many 

 situations where early grass-lamb is in great demand. It is usual for the rams to remain with the 

 ewes for a month or six weeks, and in some cases longer, in order to complete the business of im- 

 pregnation, which in some districts is ascertained by smearing the fore-bows of the rams with some 

 colouring substance." 



7155. The practice of turning a number of rams among the flocks formerly adopted is highly exception, 

 able, as tending to prevent the main object and injure the rams. A better way is to let each ram have a 

 proper number of ewes, and with very choice stock to keep the ram in an enclosed small pasture, turning 

 a few ewes to him, and as they are served replacing them with others. By this means there is more cer- 

 tainty, and more ewes may be impregnated. In such sort of fine stock, it is likewise of great utility to 

 keep the rams during this season in a high manner. In this view a little oats in the straw, or a mixture 

 of barley and pea meal, are excellent. Where ewes are backward in taking the ram, the best means to be 

 employed are those of good stimulating keep. The rams should always be continued with the ewes a 

 sufficient length of time. 



7156. The ewe will breed twice a year, if it be made a point to produce such an effect by attention and 

 high keep; since she will receive the male indifferently at any season, and, like the rabbit, very soon after 

 bringing forth. Lisle gives an instance of three of his ewes, well kept, lambing at Christmas, fattening 

 off their lambs at Lady-day, and producing lambs again the first week in June. It seems they stole the 

 ram immediately after lambing, but brought the second time only single lambs, although of a breed that 

 generally produces twins. There is no doubt but the sheep would produce young thrice a year were the 

 bad practice resorted to, which has been so currently recommended with the rabbit, of allowing the male 

 immediately after parturition ; the ready way to render both the female and her progeny worthless. 

 Could the lambs be advantageously weaned at two months, sufficient time would, he conceives, remain 

 for the ewe to bring forth twice within the year. For example, suppose the young ewe tupped in August, 

 the lamb would be dropped in the middle of January, and might be weaned in mid March, the ewe again 

 receiving the ram on the turn of the milk, like the sow, perhaps in or before April, she would then bring 

 forth within the twelve months or in August. This plan would, continues Lisle, at least injure the dam 

 infinitely less than suckling during gestation. 



7157. When ewes are in lamb they should be kept in the pastures, and as free from disturbance as possible, 

 being carefully attended to in order to prevent accidents which are liable to take place at this time, such 

 as those of their being cast in the furrows, &c. Where any of the ewes slip their lambs, it is advised by 

 Banister that they should be immediately removed from the flock. They also require, under these cir- 

 cumstances, to be kept as well as the nature of the farm will admit, in order that there maybe less loss at 

 lambing-time from the ewes being stronger, and the lambs more healthy and better capable of contending 

 with the state of the season at which they may be dropped. The shepherd should at this period be parti- 

 cularly careful and attentive to afford his assistance where it may be necessary. He should constantly 

 have regard to the suckling of the lambs, and to see that the udders of the ewes are not diseased. His 

 attendance will often be required in the night as well as the day. At this season covered sheep-folds are 

 often of very great advantage in saving and protecting both ewes and their lambs. 



7158. In respect to the nmnber of lambs at a birth it is remarked by Lawrence, that the ewe brings most 

 commonly one, next in degree of frequency two, rarely from three to five lambs at a birth. This property 

 of double birth is, he says, in some instances specific ; the Dorset sheep usually yeaning twins, and the 

 large polled Belgic sheep, with their descendants our Tees water, doing the same, and producing occasionally 

 more at a birth. Other breeds bring twins in the proportion of one third of the flock, which is supposed 

 to depend considerably on good keep. A certain number of ewes per centum prove barren annually : the 

 cause ve'ry rarely natural defect ; sometimes over-fatness, a morbid state of body from poverty or neglect 

 of the ram ; in other words, want of system in the shepherd. 



7159. The keep of sheep after latnbing, where rich pastures or other kinds of grass lands cannot be 

 reserved, should consist of turnips or other kinds of green food provided for the purjwse, and given them 

 in a suitable manner ; but where it can be done, it is always better to leave this sort of food untouched till 

 about the period of lambing, when it should be regularly supplied in proportion to the necessity there may 

 be for it. The ewes also demand at this time much care to see that they are put upon a dry sheltered 

 pasture, free from disturbance, and that neither they nor their lambs, sustain injury from the too great 



