82 Essay on Sheep. 



casionally lay straw upon them. This forms 

 a soft bed in the winter^ and by its early fer- 

 mentation in the spring, furnishes a rich ma- 

 nure. In stormy weather your shepherd should 

 visit your fold very frequently about yeaning 

 time, as a storm appears to accelerate the birth 

 of the lambs, and some may be lost for want of 

 attention. 



In addition to the general fold, I have four 

 partitions under thp shed, large enough each 

 to contain a couple of ewes. When a lamb 

 drops, it is put, with its mother, into one of these 

 enclosures, which is well littered. Here they 

 are kept for two days, and tlie ewe is fed with 

 bran and succulent food. When more lamb& 

 come, and these cells are wanted, the older 

 give place to the younger, the lamb being 

 generally sufficiently strong the third day to 

 take care of itself, and to find its dam when 

 turned into the flock. In the early part of the 

 season, and before the ewes begin to show any 

 signs of being near their yeaning time (which 

 may be known by the swelling of their udders), 

 they are kept upon good hay (clover is prefer- 

 red to any other) and corn-stalks. When any 

 of them appear to make bag, as the shepherds 

 call it, which will be about ten days or a fort- 

 night before they lamb, they are carried to the 



