104 Essay on Sheep. 



or being so careful of their lambs as the older 

 ones. If the lambs come early, it will be ne- 

 cessary to wean the forward males before the 

 first of August, particularly if the ewes are in 

 high order, or if some among them have lost 

 their lambs early, as they may otherwise im- 

 pregnate the ewes sooner than is proper. It is 

 a very common practice in Europe to shear the 

 lambs, though it is seldom done here; and yet 

 I think it more adapted to our climate than to 

 that of northern Europe. The heat of our sum- 

 mers renders the wool very burdensome to the 

 lambs; and as our autumns are generally fine 

 and dry, there is sufficient time for the wool to 

 grow so much as to protect them during the 

 winter. Lamb^s wool also sells much higher 

 here for hatters' use than in Europe, so as to 

 render the shearing more a point of profit. Af- 

 ter the lamb is shorn, he should be washed and 

 perfectly freed from the tick. Thougli I do 

 not wash my sheep before shearing, I always 

 have them washed, after they arc shorn, once 

 or twice during the hottest weather, and think 

 that the practice is useful in freeing them from 

 tick and preventing the scab. My lambs will 

 drop very early this year; I contemplate shear- 

 ing all those not intended for sale, and washing 

 them not only in running water, but with soap. 



