184 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA. 



is the lambing of ewes in the alfalfa fields in 

 March or earlier, and growing the lambs rap- 

 idly with grain and green alfalfa for early 

 marketing in May and June. 



MODEBN MANAGEMENT. 



A herd may contain from 500 to 3,000 sheep. 

 Perhaps 2,000 would be considered a good 

 sized but workable herd in New Mexico. At 

 lambing time the ewe band is divided, not 

 more than 1,000 being together. Good shep- 

 herds seldom use the corral at night, since its 

 use is almost certain to bring a steady deterio- 

 ration in a good flock and prevent the im- 

 provement of a bad one. Instead of the cor- 

 ral the sheep are driven at evening time near 

 to the tent of the herder and watched for a 

 little time when they finally lie down in a 

 compact body. They are then said to be 

 "bedded down" and will remain there quietly 

 until morning unless the moon happens to be 

 very bright, or something comes to frighten 

 them. 



It is usual to have bells upon a number' of 

 the sheep. The herder in his tent close at 

 hand hears the jingle of the bells if the sheep 

 start to move off and goes around them or 

 sends his dog. Soon the habit is formed with 

 great fixity of "bedding down" regularly 

 close to their herder and they do not often try 

 to stray without serious provocation. 



Very early in the morning the herd awakens 

 and unless there is a storm threatening, of 

 which they have instinctive fore knowledge, 



