CONTENTS. Xvii 



• is employed— means to induce her to suckle— lambs of fine-wooled 

 sheep sensitive to cold and wet when they drop — storms should be an- 

 ticipated — ewes should be got under cover — course when the lambs 

 are brought to the fire to overcome numbness — means adopted with 

 twins — death of the lamb causing sometimes garget — pasture of the 

 ewes before and after parturition — number should herd together af- 

 fection of the ewe for her offspring — an instance related by the Et- 

 trick Shepherd, James Hogg. Salting- no longer a mooted question 

 —philosophy of salting— an instance in France— care to be observed 

 m the spring— quantity necessary at a salting— salting in troughs not 

 recommended— time of day when the writer salts his flocks— benefit 

 of salting late in the fall— very essential in winter— salting of hay 

 recommended. 



Washing. Careless mode of doing it by many— the most suitable time 

 dependmg on the weather— water and weather should always be com- 

 paratively warm— consequences of violating it— the day should be 

 one of sunshine— flock-master should be present— should be done on 

 temperance principles— running stream of pure water recommended 

 —use of vats— process described— the " clean thing" should be aimed 

 at and not missed — quotation from Samuel Lawrence on the subject 

 — soap for buck fleeces — necessity for turning the sheep on a green 

 sward after washing— driving the sheep along a dusty road should be 

 avoided— Spanish custom of washing— English and German also— 

 loss by scouring Spanish, German, Australian, and American Merino 

 and Saxon wools— also South American— reform called for in Ameri- 

 can mode of washing wool. 



Castration and Docking. Time when it should be done— cool weather 

 recommended— reasons therefor— lambs should be brought from the 

 field without bustle and confined in a small pound— mode of castra- 

 tion—docking the tail— should be cut short— reasons assigned— 

 consequences of a long dock— ointment used— the ingredients and 

 preparation— application of it— means to employ after the process is 

 through with _ ^ 2^g 



CHAPTER IX. 

 SUMMER MANAGEMENT CONTINUED. 



Shearing. Harvest of the shepherd— remarks of censure on American 

 shearing— fault lies more at the door of the flock-master than shearer 

 —bad policy of hiring men to shear by the job— consequences— the 

 practice should cease— number a good shearer can perform in a day 

 —what constitutes a good shearer— instructions for a novice in shear- 

 ing—whole process described— bad policy of fretting at a new begin- 

 ner—kindness recommended— good effects of so doing— mode of 

 taking off" the fleece in England — recommended. 



Interim between Washing and Shearing, &c. Length of time 

 should depend on the state of the weather— time stated— bad conse- 

 quences of shearing in cold weather— effects of storms on sheep just 

 shorn— their suffering very great if exposed— duty of the flock-mas- 

 ter under such circumstances— horns and hoofs should be cut if not 

 already done — indications of scab. 

 2* 



