SUMMER MANAGEMENT. 191 



incline them so frequently to battle, often inflicting wounds 

 around the base of the horns which are certain to call the 

 flies. Many valuable rams have been lost from this cause, 

 which watchfulness might have prevented. 



NOXIOUS WEEDS. 



Sheep, from their fondness of variety of herbage, are often 

 disposed to pluck weeds possessing poisonous qualities ; 

 and to guard against this evil entirely, the only remedy is, 

 for the flock-master to eradicate everything of the kind from 

 his sheep-walks. The low Laurel, Kalmia Angustifolia, is 

 always fatal to sheep, and Johnswort also, if partaken of too 

 freely ; but the reader is referred to the chapter on Diseases 

 for further observations relative to these. 



The burs of the common Burdock and Tory-plant are both 

 injurious to the appearance of the fleece, and much vigilance 

 is requisite to destroy these weeds, as their most congenial 

 places of growth are in fence corners, and beside old stumps 

 and logs, and therefore not so easily seen. But it is an old 

 observation of wool-growers, " if you want to find a bur- 

 dock, put a sheep on the track," and the trophies of success 

 will soon be seen carried in its fleece. Burs in wool injure 

 materially its sale, and a reduction in price frequently fol- 

 lows. If a burdock is early severed near the root, and a 

 handful of salt applied, it will never again " rise and report 

 progress." The common thistle should also be kept down, 

 for which the washer, shearer, and especially the roller of 

 fleeces, will return their grateful thanks 



