CHAP. in. SHEEP AND LAMB CALENDAR. 1047 



using this crop as such, therefore a good breadth of cabbage should be 

 looked upon as essential on every farm in the autumn. "Where roots 

 are cut, one man can shepherd 200 sheep setting the hurdles, digging 

 out all pieces of couch in front of them, and keeping the feet sound 

 and free from foot-rot if the roots are got up for him. 



Keep ewes which have been served, and which in forward districts 

 are expected to lamb early, as quiet as possible ; maintaining a sharp 

 look-out upon dogs, particularly stray ones, which run among sheep and, 

 worrying and fretting them, do them infinite harm especially when in- 

 lamb. Sheep, fattening for sale on the turnip brakes, should have hay 

 supplied to them in the racks, and a daily allowance of oil-cake according 

 to circumstances, half a pound is generally sufficient at this season for 

 those which are not to be sold out before March : from half to three- 

 quarters of a pound for those not sold before the New Year : but those 

 which are nearly fit for the butcher may be able to dispose of from 1 to 

 1| Ib. or even 2 Ib. per day, according to size, for a short time. Straw, 

 cut into chaff, may be substituted for hay, if additional meal is given to 

 make it tempting to the sheep, meals or grains in like manner taking 

 the place of the oil-cake. If the fattening sheep are being fed in or on 

 stubble or pasture fields, the turnips with which they are supplied 

 should then be given to them sliced and the straw or hay cut, the whole 

 being supplied in racks ; the usual method of spreading them on the 

 ground, although it has its advantages, is not so economical unless it is 

 for ewes, which are none the worse for a little exercise. A piece of 

 rock salt should be supplied to each pen of sheep. 



DECEMBER. 



Swedes are generally in good condition at this season, although they 

 often increase in size very much during this month in open weather, and 

 as the supply of cabbage may be expected to fall short they come in very 

 usefull} 7 . The small-topped kohl-rabi should be fed off before very 

 severe frosts set in, or it will be quite spoilt : the big-topped or hardy 

 variety will stand almost any weather, and is useful in the early months of 

 the year. As frosts may be expected, which will make the land too hard 

 to permit swedes being pulled conveniently, a considerable quantity 

 should be got up during fine, open weather, and clamped upon the land 

 where they are to be consumed. Heaps, a chain apart, are the most 

 convenient where the turnip-cutter is used. The roots are best topped, 

 but not cleaned and tailed until they are required for feeding. The 

 heaps should have a layer of straw, about 5 inches thick when com- 

 pressed, spread over them, and this should be covered with a coating of 

 earth two inches or more thick to keep out the wet. Ewes should be 

 allowed to take a liberal amount of exercise daily, but if driven from 

 field to field they ought not to be rushed through gateways. They 

 must be allowed a good quantity of dry food. Towards the end of the 

 month the lambing yard must be got ready for the ewes. Ewes should 

 not be allowed to get over-fat, but it is a mistake to let them get 

 muscularly weak, and as the lambs are now making a severe demand on 



