290 BREEDING AND CROSSING, 



retain his generative powers in considerable strength till he 

 is ten years old. The Saxon and Merino breeds being slow- 

 er in attaining maturity than the British varieties, greater 

 care should be observed with the young rams, by not permit- 

 ting them to cover more than from 15 to 20 ewes, when only 

 18 months old. The writer uses five of this class to the 

 hundred ewes, and from three to four when the rams are in 

 their prime. This course is followed by hardier and earlier 

 offspring, the lambs nearly all dropping within the space of 

 a fortnight. They are put from the 5th to the 8th of De- 

 cember, and thus when the period of parturition arrives, the 

 grass is somewhat abundant, and a flush of milk follows. 



There is a diversity of opinion as to the best manner of 

 putting the rams — a large majority turning in several at once, 

 others keeping them confined in yards and bringing a certain 

 number of ewes for each to serve daily, while many turn in 

 only one buck at a time, to remain a day or two, when he is 

 taken out and his place supplied by another. This is prob- 

 ably, where the flocks are large, the better and least trouble- 

 some way ; and prevents contests which are unavoidable 

 ■when several rams are together, which results in the master 

 one performing a heavier duty than is compatible with reten- 

 tion of his vigor, and hardiness to his progeny. 



Supposing the rams begin their services in the early part of 

 the month of December, they should cease at the close of the 

 month, and be withdrawn from the flock, as they lose their 

 gallantry after the tupping season is over, and sometimes 

 when feeding they are very unceremonious with their horns 

 among the ewes, which cannot but cause momentary suffer- 

 ing, if nothing worse. In conclusion, the writer strongly 

 protests against the use of one ram to over 50 ewes, (and to 

 do this he should be a very prime animal) not but what a 

 larger number can be tupped, but because of its injurious ten- 

 dency with the progeny, which may not manifest itself par- 

 ticularly when young, but is perceptible when grown, in 

 some form or other, and limits materially longevity. If we 

 reason from analogy on this point, it will quickly set us right. 

 From the earlier maturity of the British breeds, the ewes 

 are ready for the tup when at 18 months old ; but the Saxon 

 and Merino never should be put until they have attained the 

 age of two and a half years. If done before this, they will 

 drop their lambs, and often wholly disregard them, which 

 arises from their not being supplied with the necessary ali- 



