1069 PllACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



T2\^ Our OfunioH i\f this sort (ifjbldinfi, o warmly recommended by Sir J. Sinclair and A. Young, in the 

 huslMndry of S-otlnml, coineidiw with that ol'a very vupvrior jmiKe, who itnvfl, '* that such a method may 

 Ik' .vlvai>tK'<'i'* '" INirtiruljir cases, it would l>e rah to deny ; but generally it ii not advisable, either on 

 account of the sheep, or any alleged advantage from the manure thev make. An to the Hheep, this driving 

 and contlneinent, e!(|K>cially in summer, would be just an hurtful as folding them in the common way, and 

 It has been found that their wool was much injured by the broken litter mixing with the fleece in a man. 

 ner not to be easily separatini ; besides, now that it is the great object of every skilful brewler to accelerate 

 the maturity of his sheep, as well as other live stock : among other means, by leaving them to feed at 

 their ease, and if circumstances |)ermit, in small iKircels; such a practice as this can never be admissible 

 in their management ; and with regard to manure, there can be no ditiiculty in converting into it any 

 quantity of straw, stubble, and fern, by cattle fed in fold-yards, on green herbage in summer, and 

 turniivs. or other succulent food, in winter; while the soil, e8i)ecially if it Ik? of a light jKirous quality, 

 U greatly benefittnl both by the dung and treading of sheep, allowed to consume the remainder of both 

 orts of f(Hxl on the ground. It Is true, that the dung of sheep has been generally supposcnl to be more 

 valuable than that of cattle, but atx-urate experiments have not been made to determine the difference 

 in this resjHVt, among these and other polygastric animals. The greater improvement of |>astures by 

 shtvp is probably owing as much to their mode of feeding, as to the richer quality of their dung." 

 {SttjK . Biit. art Agr.) 



Sect. VI. Of Fatting Sheep and Lambs. 



7219. The suf^ect of fatting sheep may be considered in regard to the age at which 

 fatting is commenced, the kind of food, and the manner of supplying it. 



7220. The age at which sheep are fatted de|>ends upon the breed, some breeds, such as the Leicester, 

 maturing at an earlier age than others, under the same circumstances ; and also in the abundance and 

 quality of the food on which they are reared ; a disposition to early obesity, as well as a gradual tendency 

 towards that form which indicatt^s a propensity to fatten, being materially promoted by rich food, while 

 the young animals are yet in a growing state. On gooti lanti, the Leicester wethers are very generally 

 brought to a pro6table state of fatness before they are eighteen months old, and are seldom kept for 

 fktting beyond the age of two years : the Highland breeds, on the other hand, though prepared, by means 

 of turnips, a year at least sooner than they could be in former times, usually go to the shambles when from 

 three to four years old. The ewes of the tirst description are commonly fatted after having brought lambs 

 for three seasons, that is, after they have completed their fourth year,' and those of the small breeds, at 

 flrom five to seven years of age, according to circumstances. (Sup. E. Brit, art Agr.) 



7221. The kinds uf food on which sheep are fatted are good pastures, permanent or temporary ; herbage 

 crops, as clovers, tares, &c. ; turnips and other roots ; and linseed cake, grains, or other etlible refuse of 

 the oil manufactory, brewery, and distillery. 



7222. Tke mode qf feeding on rich pastures, herbage, and turnips has already been descril>etl when 

 treating of these crop* ; and it remains only to notice the modes of using grains and oil cake. These, and 

 also bran, oats, peas, and other grains and meals, whether given in winter or summer, should always be 

 accompanied with pasture or dry food of some sort, especially hay. All footl of this sort should be given 

 In moveable troughs, divided in the middle, so that the sheep may feed on each side, with a sloping roof 

 over them, so as to cover the sheep's heads and necks while feeiling, as wet is not only jjrejudicial to the 

 heep but spoils the food. A rack for hay, fixed over the trough, might j)robably be made to answer in 

 ^his intention, while it would he very convenient for holding tnat material and preventing waste. The 

 whole should be fixed on wheels and made to stand steady, and a sufficient number for the quantity of sheep 

 be always in readiness. In the fattening of wethers tlie use of barley meal, with grass or some other sort 

 of green food, has likewise been found highly beneficial; and, when it can be procure*! at a reasonable 

 rate, should not be neglected, as it is quick in rendering them fat, and the mutton is excellent A pound 

 of od-cake or of meal per day, with hay or turnips, for each crone or wether, is reckoned a fair allowance 

 ip Lincolnshire. In the report of that county several instances of oil-cake fec>ding are given, by which it 

 appears that that sort of food fattens in a shorter time than any other, is the most suitable fooil for fatten. 

 ii^U sheep, and a rapid promoter of the growth of the wool. 



72^ In fattening sheep as well as other animals, it should be made a rule never to allow them to lose 

 flab, from the eaivest age till they are sent to the butcher. It is found of much advantage, with a view 

 to speedy fattening as wdl as to the economy of food, to sei>arate a flock into divisions, corresponding with 

 its different ages, and the purpose of the owner as to the time of carrying them to market : and the 

 diange from the food of store to fatting stock, from that which is barely capable of supix)rting the condi- 

 tioD which they have already attained to that which is adapted to their speedy improvement in fatting, 

 ought to be gradual and progressive. Thus very lean sheep are never, in good management, put to full 



' vpt in winter, nor to rich pastures in summer : they are prepared for turnips in go(xi grass land ; 



I on the after-grass of mown grounds and kept on second year's leys, and afterwards a nuKlerate allow. 

 ance of turnips if they are fatted on pastures. It is a common practice, in the instance of the Leicesters, 

 to keep all that are not meant for breeding always in a state of fatness, and after full feeding on turnips 

 through winter and spring, to finish them on the first year's clover early in summer, when the prices of 

 meat are luually the highest 



7224. Th^ fattening of lambs during summer requires nothing more than keeping their 

 moCbers and them on the richest and best pasturage, and supplying such artificial food 

 as the situation, season, or other circumstances may require : but the fatting of hiuibs 

 during winter and spring requires attention to three things ; the breed, or if any breed be 

 indifierendy, the period of dropping, the Iamb-house, and tlie feeding. 



SL With retpeet to the breed, as the sheep will take the ram at any season, any variety mav be so 

 as to drop their lamtM at any period of the year ; but it is found by ex|>ci ience, that the Ilorset- 

 I is easiest made to yean, and therefore this is the sort generally cnipl(iy<^tl >" Middlesex for 

 ' i called bouse-lamb for the metropolis. The selection of the ram.- for Ijrccding the lambs 

 is, according to Middleton, founded on the followi I; V' inklirH, Hales. 

 of London are aware that such lambs as ha "I ileir li|M 



after bng butchered, and that f^l .lurally blunt 



TbU knowledgr ' ' ..I the latter 



into DorseUhin the colour of 



the flesh or lioMe4aaai : the issue of such rams v. mi at always 



at alriflbcr price i hence arose the mistaken i.ow.... i.,..,. .......,,. ...^ ^. ny to procure 



be any dose shed, cow-house, or other spare house, or, even on a small Male, a 

 ilt on purpose by the extensive dealers in thi arti'lc ; and ine to iiU4rkle 



, aiMi Dinaia* <x uanoMra art 

 mn ecftainiT of a deep colour sfti 

 4o as eammij pcodace fair meat 

 kfad hehic kcoC fivranw, and ser 



Bat the^ are buUt on purpose by the extensive dealers in thio article 



rod aad sixtr to one hundred and eighty lambi at a 



t i ^twn fat broad, with three coops of diffin-ent izes at each end 



ie hu o drfd aad Axty to one hundred and eighty lamb* at a time shoidd Im* sirventy feet lonu and 

 of diff(>rent ize at each end. ut constructcil as U) divide the lambs 



