SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 163 



The rams must not as a usual thing be per- 

 mitted to run continually with the ewes at this 

 time. If they do they themselves soon aquiesce 

 in the idea that it is an unnatural time for 

 breeding. It is wise if the ram can be kept up 

 and turned with the flock for only an hour or 

 two each day, as described in earlier pages 

 of this work. Or two rams may be used, their 

 rivalry inciting them to extra exertion. 



There is no doubt whatever that tlie breed- 

 ing instinct is in part a result of mental pro- 

 cesses that may be stimulated by suggestion. 

 This is almost as true of the sheep as it is 

 of higher races of animals. The ram that per- 

 sistently courts the ewe may after a tim^e so 

 divert (by his suggestion) blood' to her repro- 

 ductive organs as to cause her to come in heat 

 and conceive at a time when naturally these 

 organs would be in a dormant condition. 



If the shepherd does not care to risk the 

 uncertain mental influence of the ram he may 

 practice holding the ewe and compelling her 

 to accept the attention of the ram once. This 

 often supplies stimulation enough to cause her 

 to come naturally in heat and to conceive at 

 the later service. 



Fall-bom lambs in America have developed 

 into as fine sheep as ever were produced in 

 England. This is true of few lambs born in 

 spring, no matter how skillfully they have been 

 treated. Fall-born ram lambs make grand 

 strong fellows when they are yearlings and 

 ready to go into service. 



