403 APPENDIX. 



We have pursued this system for many years, and would like 

 to compare cTir flocks, of over 1100, with any like number of fine- 

 wooled to be found, which are not famished with a warm shelter, 

 let their feed be what it may. Our losses have also been very 

 small, not averaging one per cent. We aim to bring them into 

 the fold in fine drder, which we consider very essential to their 

 wintering well. Under the old system of short pastures, feeding 

 at stacks without shelter, you may estimate the per centage of 

 loss, as high as you please, and not overstretch the bounds of prob- 

 ability. Are there not many farmers of the present day, who 

 still pursue this system, and wonder why they lose so many sheep, 

 and finally ascribe their " bad luck" to disease rather than the 

 true cause 7 Experience should have taught them ere this, that a 

 large portion of hay stacked is injured by storms, which, at the 

 very time the sheep should eat plentifully, they almost refuse it, 

 particularly if it becomes wet by a drizzling rain> or a snow storm; 

 as a consequence the loss of hay and sheep is large — the flock 

 comes out " spring-poor" — cuts less wool, and that more or less 

 injured for manufacturing. 



We tried this system long enough to see its utter want of econ- 

 omy, and then adopted bams with basements or cellars underneath, 

 taking care to have them well ventilated ; and each succeeding 

 year has found us more and more satisfied with our experiment. 

 So firm is our faith, that we have no hesitation in recommending 

 to every farmer who has none, to lose no time in providing them 

 for all his stock, or at least for his sheep. The increased value 

 of the manure will alone pay a good interest upon the investment. 



Inbreeding we are'*careful to avoid the "in-and-in system." 

 We turn out from the 1st to the 15th Nov., and put from 50 to 100 

 with a buck, depending on his age and constitution. The buck 

 should be well fed. In large flocks, fi-om 80 to 85 lambs to the 

 100 is the usual average raised ; small flocks the average will 

 range higher. Nights, and cold, unpleasant days, we are careful 

 to keep them housed. Warm days we turn them out to graze, 

 and find when the ewes can get a good bite of grass, that the 

 lambs are stronger, and that they require less feed and care. We 

 wean about the 20th of August. The sheep should be tagged 

 early in the spring, and when well tagged wiU yield fi-om 15 to 20 

 lbs. to the hxmdred. 



From several causes, Saxon wool is not now cultivated so 

 eagerly as formerly, and the demand for Merino has largely in- 

 creased. The heavier the fleece, the larger the price, even though 

 much of the weight consists of gum, &c. This is a lamentable 

 fact, but how can it be expected otherwise, when so Httle discrim- 

 ination is made between Saxon and Merino wool? Some large 

 flocks have been broken up, and sheep shearing fi-om 3J to 4 lbs. 

 substituted, and we predict, if this system of buying without 

 making a suitable discrimination is to be continued, it will result 

 eventually in the destruction of nearly all the fine-wooled sheep in 



