REARING HOUSE LAMBS. 169 



produced before late in February or March, when at the 

 beginning of the business, it was easy to get ten dollars for 

 a forty pound lamb live weight. The demand for the 

 Easter festival first brought on this industry. The forward 

 ewes were highly fed at the end of Summer and coupled 

 in September, which is quite possible by high feeding, both 

 ewes and the rams, for both must be forced. The demand 

 has grown to considerable proportions of late years, and has 

 led to the use of Dorset ewes, as the lamb bearers; these 

 sheep having a habit of taking the ram at any time of the 

 year. The high prices paid will return the cost of the ewe 

 up to the time of selling the lamb, and for her feeding, atnd 

 a hundred per cent profit besides. This is well worth the 

 attention of all concerned, within two hundred miles of a 

 city, or indeed within twenty four hours of the market, as 

 the weather permits of this time for shipment and delivery. 

 So that nearly the whole of the Northern States, a large part 

 of Canada, and as much of the South, may be included in 

 the region in which this business may be carried on. The 

 Southern States may be especially favored, in this respect, 

 for lambs may be had in the open field, and fed and pre- 

 pared for market with far less cost than in any other part 

 of this continent, while in the colder North the more expen- 

 sive method of house rearing, sometimes with artificial 

 warmth, may be needed for the growing of the lambs. 



It goes without saying that there is more profit in selling 

 a lamb at eight weeks old, than one at as many months. 

 And this is the most prominent fact in this case. The 

 method practiced is to breed the ewes (the Dorsets come 

 first in this choice of ewes) at the required time, and keep 

 them and the lambs in suitable houses, well provided as to 

 convenience and healthfulness, feeding them forcing them 

 in fact to the highest milk product by rich food, and if 

 needed by artificial warmth so that the lambs make a rapid 

 growth, and become fat for sale at the opening of the 

 market, when of course the first offered bring the highest 

 prices. The market opens a short time before Christmas, 

 when the first demand occurs among those who can w r ell 

 afford all the luxuries of life. It is a fact to be considered 

 as indisputable, that it pays best to cater for this class of 

 purchasers, who spend their money without counting it, 



