Merlno-Ryeland Breed of Sheep. ^qo 



may, without injury to himselP, serve 120 ewes, or more. But then the lambs 

 will drop in the same succession ; and the shepherd will be harassed by a constant 

 and necessary, though often inefiectual attendance, during the cold and dreary 

 nights of the whole winter. The lambs, also, will not only, on account of their 

 disparity of size and strength, make an unsightly appearance, but, as tliey grow 

 up, the stronger will chase from their food and otherwise oppress the weaker; and 

 thus a large proportion of the flock will be greatly injured. 



On the other hand, when the ram is at once put to the ewes in full season, he 

 will be fatigued and exhausted by too numerous exertions ; for which reason 60 

 ewes are all which ought to be allotted to a full-grown ram, and 40 to a shearling. 

 In this manner the early instinct of the ewes may be accommodated, and the in- 

 conveniences attendant en the former method wholly obviated. 



A practice different from either of these, was, I believe, invented by Mr. Bake- 

 well, and is still pursued by some of his followers. At the intended season of 

 copulation, the sexual appetite of the ewes is provoked by a ram, cui venter et 

 genitalia panno circumteguntur, quo minus oves ineat. The ewes which are ready 

 being thus discovered, are brought in succession to the proper ram, which is kept 

 in a yard, or small inclosure, and is allowed to serve each only once. In this 

 manner, a shearling ram, well fed, may be sufficient for lOO, or more, ewes in one 

 season. This method is certainly to be recommended, where any one ram is 

 greatly superior to others in make, and other desirable qualities, relatively to a large 

 number of ewes. 



The time of admitting the ram to the ewes, if the latter are in heat and vigour, 

 may be some time in the month of August, or at the beginning of September. But 

 this requires that both shall have been, and continue to be, constantly well nou- 

 rished. I have, at different periods, tried to give my rams oats^j but could never 

 induce them to leave grass for any dry meat. It may, indeed, be doubted whether, 

 at this season, any food is so nutritious and invigorating as good grass. 



If this method be adopted, the lambs will fall from the latter end of December, 

 on through January; and four benefits will accrue in addition to those which 1 

 have specified. First, there will be the less chance of the evi?es takint^ any unin- 

 tended ram, either from our own flock, or from any neighbouiing breed; a con- 

 tingency, from which it is otherwise difficult to preserve them, and from which I 

 have sufiered great disappointment and loss. Secondly, the ram y.hich we employ. 



