SHEEP. 165 



to start. The ewes should therefore be kept from the 

 ram till the 20th of November. For a few weeks before, 

 and for a considerable time after yearning, they should 

 have plenty of juicy food : For the want of milk is the prin- 

 cipal cause of the loss of so many lambs. Sheep should 

 have hay of the liest quality during winter. Red clover 

 that has been salted in the mow is esteemed the best. 

 If sheep are fed daily upon potatoes, carrots, turnips, 

 &c. no article of stock will repay with greater protit ; 

 the quantity of wool will be greater, and quality finer ; 

 they will be fiee from ticks, unless kept in too warm a 

 covering, and too man}^ in a fold ; they will not shed 

 their wool, and seldom lose their lambsc When sheep 

 are badly kept they take colds, and discharge a mucus 

 from the nose. Good feeding, together with seme pine 

 boughs given them occasionally, will cure this complaint. 

 If pine boughs cannot be had, spread some tar over a 

 board, and over this spread some salt, which will induce 

 the sheep to lick up all the tar, and this will efiect a 

 cure. The yard and shelter should be spacious ; the 

 shelter close over-head, but open to the south, and it 

 should have some small apartments for the ewes at 

 yearning time. The different appartments must be kept 

 well littered. 



If lambs are weak, it is necessary to give them, the 

 first day or two, a small quantity of cow's milk, warm, 

 three or four times in the day ; if it is cold weather, 

 the cup containing the milk should stand in another ves- 

 sel, that is partly filled with warm water. Should the 

 lamb be chilled, rub his legs with tow, and let a warm 

 cloth be wrapped round it. But if corn, barley, oats, or 

 white beans, are given to she.ep, during the winter, in 

 small quantity, the ewes will have plenty of milk, the 

 lambs will be strong, and the trouble of nursing saved. 



Water is not necessary for sheep during the season 

 of pasture ; as they will feed while the dew is on ; but 

 in winter they should have free access to it, although 

 they can do many days without it. They thrive better 

 if changed frequently from one pasture to another, if 

 of equal goodness. 



* The weaning of lambs, before the time when they 

 naturally wean themselves, is believed to be by n'*, 

 means advisable, unless the ewes are to be turned off 

 *1S 



