Merino-Ryelaud Breed of Sheep. 491 



There is not less didcrence of c>()inion as lo the season and manner of putting 

 the ram to the ewes. In England, these points arc regulated chiefly by two con- 

 siderations, the first of which is food. 



The smaller breeds of sheep arc usually fed on hills and dry lands, on which the 

 spring of grass is late. If, therefore, the owner have no warm and sheltered inclo- 

 sures/or water-meadows, he contrives that the ewes shall not lamb sooner than 

 from the middle of March to the middle of April. On the other hand, the propri- 

 etors of several of the larger breeds, as the Dorset, are interested in early yeaning^ 

 either for house or grass lambs; and for the latter tliey have either meadows, or 

 other appropriate food. It is found, also, that, in unsheltered situations, the lambs 

 suffer much from cold, as well as want of nourishment; in which case, they arc 

 stinted in their growth, and never, afterwards, reach their due size and pro- 

 portions. 



It seejns as if there were, in different breeds, a natural variation in the period of 

 heat; for I remarked, last summer, that 47 of my Merino-Ryeland ewes became 

 blythsome, (or, according to the common phrase in this country, were blissoming) 

 much sooner than 60 ewes of like age, which were either pure Ryelands, or had a 

 cross of the Leicester. These two lots were afterwards, on the 13th of September, 

 put to two different shearling rams, apparently equal in size and vigour, and were 

 depastured on two pieces of similar land nearly adjoining. They were also alike in 

 health and flesh ; notwithstanding which, it appeared from the lambing, that of the 

 47, 31 were effectually impregnated in the first 7 days, 14 more in the next 7, 

 and the 2 others in 2 days afterwards; and of the 60 Leicester-Ryelaiids, 8 only 

 were impregnated in the first 7 days, 27 or 28 in the next 7, 3 in the third 7, 14 in 

 the fourth 7, and not all till 50 days from the commencement. 



In the same breed much difference will also arise from the decree of feeding. 

 My flock last season being considerably better in flesh than in fi)rmer years, ac- 

 quired their heat several weeks sooner; and 3of uiy 2-too(hs brought forth lambs 

 from the 8th to the 1 ith of December; and, therefore, must have received the ram 

 by stealth, from the 11th to the 14th of July. 



Though our farmers have chiefly attended to the circumstances of warmth and 

 plenty of food for their lambs, as indicative of the prudent season of impregnation, 

 they are not ignorant of one fact, which seems to have a leaning on some other 

 cause. They generally observe that lambs which fall at the latter end of May, or 



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