442 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



in August from the flock, and their places supplied by the best 

 lambs, to keep up the greatest perfection. In making this selec- 

 tion the farmer must reject all that manifest any departure from 

 the true breed; for example, a white face on South Downs, no 

 matter how well formed the animal is, must be rejected. Where 

 sheep husbandry is conducted on an extensive scale, the sheep 

 are divided into old sheep, such as wethers and two years old, 

 and breeding and young sheep, the former are put upon the 

 elevated and exposed pastures, and the latter on those that are 

 fertile and sheltered. With all the grasses that do not decline 

 from age, the more sheep you keep, the more you may keep, and 

 the more corn you will reap when such are plowed. 



The time of sheafing sheep should be regulated by the state 

 of the weather, and the maturity of the wool; for if clipping 

 precede that period it is weak, and can scarcely be spun, and 

 if protracted later it is yelloAV and imperfect. The usual method 

 is to shear longitudinally of the sheep, by which at least two 

 ounces of wool on an average is left on each sheep, and by that 

 means much injury is done to the following growth. They should 

 be clipped circularly round the body, and the work will be evenly 

 executed. An expert clipper, with a man to assist him in turn- 

 ing the sheep, will shear many in a day. 



It is necessary to have a proper person to wand the wool after 

 the shearer, who should perfectly understand the business, as 

 much iA the sale depends upon this being well done, and that 

 no improper substances be enclosed in the fleeces. The coarsest 

 of the wool on the thighs should be clipped six weeks before the 

 time of washing and shearing, it keeps the sheep clean and cool, 

 and prevents the ewes from becoming sore in the udder. Lambs 

 may be castrated, if strong, when two weeks old, if weak, 

 three weeks or a month accoi-ding to circumstances. The usual 

 method of ascertaining the age of sheep, as in cattle, is by their 

 teeth, a sheep one year old, has two broad teeth before; a two 

 year old has four; a three year old six; and a four year old eight; 

 when it is full mouthed, after four, the teeth begin to break and 

 fall out. Sheep are liable to a great variety of diseases both 

 internal and external. The fly is a disease to which they are 

 constantly exposed in summer; many remedies are in use for the 

 j)revention of the effects of this dangerous insect ; but that which 

 is most effectual, with the least injury to the wool, is the flowers 

 of sulphur in combination with lard, or butter, which can be 

 .drawn thinly over the wool by the hand. Where maggots are 



