502 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK iv. 



some called the fore-flank, should be quite full ; the back and loins 

 broad, flat, and straight, from which the ribs must rise with a fine 

 circular arch. The belly should be straight ; the quarters long and 

 full, with the mutton quite down to the hough, which should stand 

 neither in nor out ; his twist (i.e., the junction of the inside of the 

 thighs) deep, wide, and full, which, with the broad breast, will keep all 

 his legs open and upright ; the whole body covered with a thin pelt ; 

 and that with fine, bright, soft wool." l 



Such was the description of the animal recommended by Mr. Culley, 

 who observed that the nearer any breed of sheep comes to it, the 

 nearer it approaches to excellence of form ; and in the main his 

 description is generally applicable now. 



It should, however, be remembered, that symmetry consists in that 

 shape which is best suited to the soil on which the animal is bred, so 

 that what would be thought perfect in a Leicester sheep may be found 

 a deformity or an objection in a Southdown or a Cheviot. 



The pelt, or coat, should always be attentively examined, in order 

 to ascertain whether it is not stitchy -haired ; for in this case the fleece 

 would be so materially damaged, in the course of two years, that the 

 injury would not be remedied for a long period, or unless the whole 

 flock was changed. 



The fineness of wool is not the only criterion by which it should be 

 estimated, even in the short- woolled breeds ; the staple is also of great 

 importance. 



Ewes will generally breed at the age of a year, but even in times 

 when there has been a special demand for lambs, it has rarely been 

 found profitable to allow the ewes to take the ram sufficiently early 

 for this, as the risk of loss is too great. As a rule, ewes lamb for the 

 first time when two years old, the ram having been put to them when 

 they were at the age of 1 year and 7 months. As to the precise time, 

 however, at which the rani is admitted to the ewes, much depends on 

 the goodness of the food, as well as the forward or backward state of 

 the breed. The choice of ewes should be determined with care and 

 discrimination, not only as to the characteristic marks, which should 

 be the same as those of the ram, but also with regard to the breed ; 

 with sheep, as with other stock, the highest degree of excellence can 

 be obtained when the female possesses an equal degree of blood with 

 the male 



The purchaser should particularly ascertain that the sheep are 

 sound; and, as an assurance of this, the teeth should be white, the 

 gums red, the breath not foetid, the eyes lively, the wool firm, and the 

 feet cool. 



Ewes bring forth one, two, and sometimes three lambs, 2 after a period 

 of gestation of twenty-one or twenty-two weeks : hence the sheep-farmer 

 or breeder may, by considering whether he has sufficient grass to support 



1 Culley on Live Stock, pp. 103, 104. 



2 According to M. Teissier's experiments on gestation (already alluded to), out of 912 ewes, 



140 lambed between the 146th and 150th day ; mean time 148 days. 

 576 ,, 150th and 154th day ; 152 



96 154th and 161st day ; 



Giving a mean of 152 days. 



