THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



closely, and rations balanced accordingly; for 

 climatical variations, from year to year, affect 

 crops so materially that nothing but personal 

 observation of the stock can be accepted as a 

 safe guide for the relative quantities of dry 

 and succulent food. 



As the sheep indicated by the record num- 

 bers and dates fall due, they are placed in the 

 outer pen of the fold, and carefully watched, 

 though it is seldom a sheep needs assistance. 

 After the lamb, or lambs, are born, it, or they, 

 and the mother are confined in the small pens 

 formed by the movable hurdles, where the 

 shepherd's supervision is still necessary, as 

 lambs occasionally have to be encouraged and 

 helped to seek nourishment; in which case 

 start the ewe's milk flowing as you would a 

 cow's, and coax the lamb to her. If it is still 

 obstinate, take a little of the milk and feed it 

 with a spoon. 



The day after lambing, give the ewe about 

 a pound of chopped pumpkin, which possesses 

 properties of special value at such times, and 



18 



