84 Essay on Sheep. 



not be obtained, smear tar on boards, and sprin- 

 kle them lightly with salt, and lay them so as the 

 sheep may get at them; by eating it their bodies 

 will be kept open, and themselves in heart. 

 Once a week a small quantity of salt should 

 be given in the mangers. Salt is, I think, es- 

 sential to the health of sheep in our climate, 

 and it is thought of so much consequence in 

 Spain, that the King cannot raise much revenue 

 on that article, lest it should induce the shep- 

 herds to abridge the quantity usually given to 

 their sheep; which, they say, would not only 

 injure them, but change the quality of the 

 wool. About a fortnight after the lambs drop, 

 give them, besides your mark of appropriation, 

 a mark which is to distinguish the degree of 

 Merino blood they possess, At this time you 

 can make no mistake, because you can take 

 the lamb immediately from its dam : if you 

 defer it till they are larger and more numerous, 

 you will be liable to errors. I view this as very 

 important, particularly if you mean to sell any 

 of your stock for breeding, since a man that 

 possesses either honour or honesty would feel 

 the utmost pain at having deceived the pur- 

 chaser in a matter which is so essential to the 

 amelioration of his flock. 



Should any deformed or lame lambs be found 



