228 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



but that sudden changes affect their appetites and without 

 injuring their heaUh. Again, a sheep of proper form and 

 inclination to fatten will not need so nmch nutriment to pre- 

 serve its f.esh as one of the same weight of a coarse, raw- 

 boned, uneasy make. And one kind of hay may have double 

 the substantial qualities of another. Therefore no certain 

 rule can be given as to the quantity necessary for their sup- 

 port ; though experiments of this kind are not without 

 their use, for, as remarked in one of the New England Far- 

 mers, they afford " a fine opportunity of guessing at the pro- 

 per (jUantity necessary to keep a stock a given time." 



' There exists a great diversity of opinion in regard to the 

 proper time of year for lambs to come. A New York wri- 

 ter thinks that rams should not be taken from the ewes at 

 all ; that lambs should come early in the winter, which is 

 the natural time. This I think erroneous ; the natural time 

 is the most convenient time, and the proprietor should be 

 governed wholly by his means. There are advantages in 

 having lambs come early, and disadvantages, and vice versa 

 the same in having them come late. If a man has con- 

 voiiences for guarding against cold, and plenty of succulent 

 food for his ewes, February and ]\Iarch is decidedly the 

 best time for them to come. It is true that they require 

 more attention at this season than in warm weather, but time 

 is not worth so much, and the lambs learn to eat hay before 

 they are turned to pasture, consequently they do much bet- 

 ter the following winter. They get out of the Avay of foxes, 

 and are able to take care of themselves at washing and 

 shearing time, which is of considerable consequence. On 

 the contrary, if the farmer is deficient in proper food and 

 other conveniences for his sheep, and has a pasture near that 

 he can look to his flock, it may often be advisable to have 

 his lambs come in April or May. 



' When sheep are turned to pasture in the spring, the tran- 

 sition from dry food to grass causes a relax, which spoils, or 

 very much injures a great part of the wool on their buttocks 

 and thighs, and makes double the work at the time of wash- 

 ing ; therefore, before they are turned to pasture the wool in 

 the way should be carefully shorn off, which is very little 

 trouble, and makes a saving worth noticing. 



' In selecting a flock of sheep, the first care undoubtedly 

 should be to get those of the evenest and finest wool ; the 

 next, those of the best form and most peaceable disposition ; 

 and the next care, which is very little thought of, to get those 



