Summer Feeding and Care. 137 



the ewes vigorous and strong and causing them to 

 regain flesh. If, however, no rape has been grown 

 for this purpose the next best feed is grain, which 

 is of course more expensive. Oats have proved 

 satisfactory, and cabbage may also be recom- 

 mended. 



CULLING THE EWE FLOCK. 



Before breeding is to begin in the fall, the flock 

 ought to be culled. All ewes that have not proved 

 to be good producers and do not furnish enough 

 milk to raise at least one good lamb should be the 

 first to be culled out. All other ewes that have 

 broken mouths, or whose udders or teats have ac- 

 cidentally become spoiled, should be sold to the 

 butcher while still in a fleshy condition. At tliis 

 time the shepherd must judge as to which ewes 

 ought to be disposed of and which ought to be re- 

 tained. He knows every individual and knows 

 their records of production perhaps better than 

 the owner of the flock himself, who may make it a 

 point to inspect the flock but once in a while. Such 

 men make mistakes very easily as they generally 

 select the best looking ewes to be retained and 

 dispose of the thin looking ones, not knowing that 

 the fat ones did not give much milk, and conse- 

 quently are in fine trim at this time. Let the shep- 

 herd, who knows each ewe and knows what she 



