206 MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 



Avhich, when given freely, operates much to counteract 

 hoove, and some other diseases of the digestive organs. 

 When lambs are first placed on clover rowen, let them have 

 all the salt they will eat. If this is done, the gases 

 evolved, instead of acting as in cases of hoove, will pass 

 naturally through the intestines. This is applicable to 

 every class of sheep, and the course recommended is found- 

 ed upon the writer's experience. 



When the weaning takes place, let one or two tame sheep 

 be put with them, to subdue their wildness, learn them to 

 eat salt, and aid in conducting them through bars for change 

 of pasture. 



A contrary course must be adopted with the ewes, in ref- 

 erence to their pasture, for a week or more after weaning. 

 It can scarcely be too poor ; otherwise, it is frequently fol- 

 lowed by great distension of their udders, and inflammation 

 or garget. Under any circumstances they should be watch- 

 ed, and if this is likely to occur with any of the flock, they 

 should be separated and milked for a day or two, and during 

 this time fed with hay or other dry food. After the lapse 

 of a week or more, the ewes should be placed on such pas- 

 ture as will hasten their return in the most speedy time to 

 good condition. Should there be a few, which is often the 

 case, much below the order of the majority of the flock, they 

 should be taken out, and put on better keep than the others. 

 The loss of valuable ewes from poverty during the winter, 

 may be traced frequently to a neglect of this. This admo- 

 nition is applicable also to the lambs. 



EAR-MARKING. 



The duty devolves on the flock-master, at the time of 

 weaning, to mark the ears of his lambs, and putting the ini- 

 tials of his name on their bodies, if deemed necessary. 

 One, or both, is quite indispensable, as, from their anxiety 

 to get to the mothers immediately after their separation, they 

 will creep through fences, in places, too, where it would not 

 be supposed possible, and stray. This is quite likely to 

 happen, if placed in enclosures adjoining the road in which 

 sheep are permitted to run. It is quite common to crop one 

 of the ears, which is not proper, as it gives the sheep an un- 

 natural and ungainly appearance. It requires no special in- 

 genuity to devise a mark w^hich will leave the length of the 

 ears entire. 



