SUPPLEMENT. 771 



ance of from three to four ounces per head of mixed bmised heavy oats, linseed cake, 

 and fresh broad bran. Where it can be conveniently given, a frequent change of pasture 

 is most desirable, and any extra trouble or inconvenience this inay cause will be amply 

 repaid by the thriving and healthy condition that it will be sure to promote. The ewea 

 will require extra care and attention when the lambs are weaned from them. For a lew 

 days they should be somewhat sparingly fed, so as to check the production of milk. 

 Each one must also be specially watched to ascertain the condition of its udder, and, 

 when necessary, it should be relieved of any excess of milk by carefully drawing it off 

 with the hand. A neglected udder is frequently followed by milk garget, which is in- 

 dicated by the udder being swollen and hard. This, though not a fatal, is frequently a 

 very troublesome disease. It arises from the milk curdling, and gives considerable pain 

 and inconvenience to the ewe. The first thing to do is to get all the mUk possible from 

 the udder. Then use rather freely a lotion consisting of sugar of lead, i ounce; sulphate 

 of zinc, J ounce ; vinegar, 1 pint ; water, J pint. And give a dose of Epsom salts of from 

 3 to 4 ounces, dissolved wiii warm water. 



Practical flockmasters are also well aware that great care and attention are required in 

 the management of lambs throughout the months of July, August, and September, when 

 so many thousands are annually lost from a low, lingering, weakening fever, which seems 

 to feed on their very life's-blood, post-mortem examinations showing that it leaves an emaci- 

 ated body, white and bloodless. A cure is most difficult, and is rarely accomplished, if 

 the fever remains unchecked for any length of time. Prevention in this, as in other 

 matters, if far easier and therefore better than cure. My experience convinces me that 

 injudicious and niggardly feeling is the main cause of this lamb disease. Where lambs 

 are given a change of food of a nutritive character, and are not allowed to feed on past- 

 ures or layers where sheep have been folded or have laid thickly on the ground they 

 generally remain healthy, and are seldom attacked with the fever. " Keep lambs in a 

 thriving condition " is a rule which ought to be written in letters of gold. It is a rule 

 which also applies to sheep of all ages. Time passes so quickly that I have only a lew- 

 minutes to speak of the management of young sheep when first fed with turnips. I 

 may, however, briefly observe that great care should be taken to gradually accustom the^ 

 hoggets to turnips by throwing a few at a time on to grass land where they are feeding, 

 increasing the daily allowance as they get accustomed to the food. When this has been- 

 accomplished put them into a fold on the turnip land at night; in that case, also, the- 

 supply of roots must be limited for a time. When feeding young sheep on turnip land 

 it is of the first importance not to pinch them with insufficient hurdle room. An extra 

 £10 expended in hurdles may save the loss of £20 worth of sheep. A good supply of 

 hurdles enables the animals to get exercise, and to pick up any withered parts of turnips- 

 which may have been passed over during the folding. Such withered roots are enjoyed- 

 by sheep when the weather is fine, and frequently have a good efifect in checking any 

 possible evil from the fresh turnips. 



It should be borne in mind that good and successful managers supplement the turnip 

 food with a mixture of chaff (if of hay all the better), malt, culms, bran, and linseed 

 cake, and are guided in the daily allowance by the time at which they wish to. have the 

 sheep ready for sale. When the period comes to feed with swedes, in place of white or 

 other common turnips, care must be taken to introduce them mixed at first, and then 

 gradually to increase the proportion of swedes until no turnips are given at all. Do not 

 overdo them vrith roots at any time, or bad results may follow. It sometimes happens 

 that under any circumstances a lot of sheep will begin to do badly on roots. When 

 this is the case do not hesitate to entirely change the food for a time. It will avoid dis- 

 astrous loss. I have frequently known a judicious alteration of food cause so great a 

 change in the health of a lot of sheep as to surprise their owner and the shepherd in 

 charge of them. A careful, observant, and practical man will frequently avoid the losses 

 which another person, less observant and less practical, is called upon to endure. 



DISCUSSION. 



Lord Walsingham, who was warmly cheered, said: Professor Tanner having at the last 

 moment very unexpectedly done me the honor to ask me to take the chair on this occa- 

 sion, it becomes my duty and gives me great pleasure to propose a vote of thanks to Mr. 

 Woods for his most excellent lecture. I may honestly say that no one has had more op- 

 portunity of judging of Mr. Woods's intimate acquaintance with the subject on which ho 

 has just spoken than I have myself I am indebted to him personally for his most excel- 

 lent management of my flock of Southdown sheep. But apart from that his contributions 

 to agricultural literature are known and valued. I believe that his first lecture, which 

 he gave to the Wayland Agricultural Association thirteen years ago, is still of the greatest 

 possible use to the floekmaster. Mr. Woods has referred in flattering terms to the late 

 Mr. Jonas Webb. I have no doubt that many of you are well acquainted with the statue 



