418 AEPENDIX. 



them last winter with good hay, and ainoderate feed of chopped 

 turnips, mixed with a little meal, once per day f and the present 

 winter, until marketed, their feed was about one pint of com and 

 oats to each sheep per day, for about eight weeks only. 



As respects my general mode of management of these kind of 

 sheep, it may be asserted, that what is essential to the proper 

 management of one, or any particular breed of sheep, is essential 

 to all, less or more. A few things I can only name ; and first, I 

 regard protection from storms in winter, and the right sort of hay, 

 secured under cover, as Ijdng at the foundation of all good sheep 

 husbandry. It is a well known fact, that of all domestic animals, 

 the sheep is the most harmless, and the most delicate in the choice 

 of its food ; hence, we have only to be guided by these principles 

 of their nature, in all our management of them, to ensure success. 



[Mr. Clift here enters into mmute details of his process of cu- 

 ring hay, which is very meritorious, and worthy of imitation by 

 every farmer, but of necessity is omitted.] 



It will be expected that I should say something of the manage- • 

 ment of my ewes and lambs ; first, in regard to the ewes. In the 

 fall, about the first of September, I overhaul my whole flock, se- 

 lecting such of them as I design to keep over, and have lambs the 

 following spring, selecting none but those I feel assured will re- 

 main hardy through the winter, and bring a good lamb or lambs. 

 The remainder, or those I have condemned for purposes of breed- 

 ing, I fat, and sell to the drover or butcher, as soon as possible, 

 ^t is important that ewes should be in a thriving condition, pre- 

 vious, and at the time of taking the bucks, which, with me, is 

 about the middle of October, or first of November. I endeavor to 

 have my ewes come into the winter strong in flesh, and in order 

 to this, I am careful not to keep them out upon the fall pastures 

 too late. Many sheep are permitted to fall ofi" in this way, when 

 of all other times it is most important to keep up thrift, and this I 

 do by giving them daily, at first, a bite of my choicest hay. I am 

 not in the habit of feeding grain, or roots of any kind, to my stock 

 ewes during winter. This I do, however, when the time draws 

 nigh for them to bring forth their young, by drawing off from time 

 to time those coming forward. Ten days previous feeding at this 

 time is none too soon, and is of more importance than twenty after 

 the ewes have lambed, if you could do but the one or the other. 

 But my practice is to continue the grain or roots, more or less, 

 until they are turned off to pasture for the season. Tagging at 

 this time is highly necessary, and should be performed with a good 

 pair of shears, and in as tasteful a manner as a jockey would trim 

 his horse ; 'and also at all other times, when any dung is seen ad- 

 hering to the wool about the tail. 



Small ranges, with a few sheep together, and shifted often, 

 sheep will thrive the best when at pasture. 



L ambs should be weaned at the age of three or four months. I 

 do this as soon as my early mown meadows get a good coat of 



