68 THE farmer's GUlOEi 



of her milk. Sometimes lambs appear pining and swol* 

 len without the cause being discovered. This is fre- 

 quently caused by the excrements adhering to the body 

 and closing the vent. It can be prevented by rubbing 

 the parts with clay or red earth. 



NA^EANING. 



If lambs are left to run with their dam.s to a late pe- 

 riod in the fall, it not only greatly injures the sheep, by 

 preventing their recruiting sufficiently before the winter 

 commences, but the lambs do not get accustomed to dry 

 food before cold weather sets in, and thus both sheep 

 and lambs are unfitted for the rigors of winter. At this 

 season the sheep should be turned into a poor pasture 

 for a few days, while the lamb should have fresh rowen 

 or clover-hay. After the ewe has been poorly fed for 

 three weeks, it should then have good fare for the remain- 

 der of the season; for if winter overtakes her in low 

 flesh she will remain so until spring. Lambs preparing 

 for market should have good feed, and remain with their 

 dams as long as the welfare of the sheep will allow. 



CASTRATION OF LAMBS. 



This ought to be attended to when they are not over 

 four or five weeks old, for the longer it is neglected after 

 that age, the more hazardous it becomes. When catch- 

 ing the lambs they should not be worried, as in that C3.se 

 their blood becomes heated, and it is dangerous to per- 

 form the operation. It is customary with many to apply 

 salt to the wound, but tar mixed with lard or fresh but- 

 ter has been found to be far more safe. THe lambs are 

 liable to take cold while the wound is healing if they are 

 exposed to storms or severe cold nights. 



NA^ASHING SHEEP. 



This should never be performed until the weather is 

 moderately warm, as they are liable to contract a cold 

 which will lead to other diseases, if performed in cool 

 weather. As a general rule it can be attended to from 

 the 20lh of May till the 10th of June, always selecting a 

 warm day and attending to it in the morning, that the 

 fleece may become dry the same day. 



