490 History of Ihe Author's 



offspring, but, in the parents of both sexes, premature weakness and decay. Among 

 the lower animals, I have known a heifer under a year old pine away and die, in 

 which dissection pointed out no cause of death, but that she was already two 

 months in calf. In sheep themselves, we find that shearling ewes generally bring 

 smaller lambs, and much more frequently lose their produce in yeaning, or from 

 want of milk, than older sheep. At the same time, either from gestation or suck- 

 ling, their own frame never afterwards attains its full growth, and the wool is either 

 absolutely, or relatively, less than it would otherwise have been. These circum- 

 stances prove, that, with a view to immediate interest, if not to the ultimate well- 

 being of the race itself, we ought to restrain the ewes from too earl)' connection. 

 How far the interest of the owner may cause an exception to this principle on some 

 particular occasions, is another qviestion. It is, doubtless, often desirable for him 

 to increase his flock at all hazards ; and, thus circumstanced, I have often admitted 

 my yearling ewes to the ram, and am now observing the difference of results, 

 though I have not yet had time, from my own experit^nce, fully to establish it. 



Should the latter mode be preferred, it is certain that much advantage will arise 

 from plenty of wholesome food, continued from the very birth of the lamb, all 

 through the periods of conception, gestauon, and suckling. 



Experience shews that the same antecedence of desire to capacity takes place in 

 the male in a greater degree than in the female ; and if the effect is not so obvious 

 on the offspring, it is sufiiciently clear with regard to the animal himself, who, from 

 the peculiar circumstances of his bodily constitution, is more weakened and ex- 

 hausted, and often dies. There may, nevertheless, be occasions on which it may 

 be convenient to have the early use of the ram as well as of the ewes. Thus, for 

 example, when a shearling is much superior in all valuable qualifications to any of 

 the older stock, in such a case one would rather incur some risk of injury to him, 

 than entail on a whole generation the certain defect, which would follow the want of 

 his services. So circumstanced, we should spare his strength by proportioning the 

 number of the ewes, of which we should, most prudendy, choose a few best calcu- 

 lated to perpetuate his excellencies ; and both before and after the period of service, 

 ■weshoulcl take care to supply him with plenty of die best food. When, however, 

 we are anxious for the excellence of our whole flock, and have our choice of 

 rams, it is best to defer propagation, in both sexes, till they are from two to three 

 years old. 



