IT mTEODUCTION. 



embodying the results of tlie experience whicli sheep breeders haye 

 obtained down to the present time — is obviously called for. And the 

 need is more urgent at a period when a great existing war has so 

 raised the price of wool that multitudes are embarking in its production 

 who have comparatively little knowledge of sheep or their management. 

 This work is intended to be minute and explicit enough in regard to 

 every detail of that management to meet the wants of the merest 

 beginner. 



I would gladly have seen this labor perfonned by another. But, 

 during the past year, repeated public and private intimations have 

 continued to reach me from breeders, agricultural editors, etc., scattered 

 through various States of this Union, and representing personal interests 

 the most diversified and even contrary, that my preparation of such 

 a worii was considered desirable. In complying with the vrishes thus 

 .expressed, I can only bring to my task experience, and a disposition 

 to state facts with accuracy and candor. As has been remarked in 

 another portion of this volume, I have owned and been familiar with 

 flocks of gheep from my infancy, and have had the direct and practical 

 ,charge and management of them, in considerable numbers, for a period 

 exceeding tlurty years. During that time I have bred all the varieties 

 of the Merino which have been introduced into our country, and 

 several of the leading families of English sheep. But not having bred 

 the latter extensively, or very recently, I have thought it would be 

 more satisfactory, in most instances, to employ descriptions of them 

 drawn from standard English writers, and from their actual breeders 

 in the United States. Had I contemplated writing this work long 

 enough in advance to make a collection of materials specially intended 

 for it, I should also have taken pleasure in dravsring out the opinions 

 of the eminent and highly successful breeders of English sheep in the 

 Canadas. My inquiries might even have extended to England. But 

 the "Practical Shepherd" was commenced as soon as the writing of 

 it was determined on, and the earlier Chapters, treating on Breeds, 

 were in piint before I could have sought in an appropriate mode 

 and obtained the desired information from foreign lands. 



When called upon to give the opinions of others in regard 

 to points with which I am unacquainted, or less acquainted, I have 

 chosen generally to quote their language, — and in all instances 

 to mention their names. Disguised compilation is one of the pettiest 

 forms of literary theft; and it deprives the reader of his fair and 

 proper privilege of deciding for himself on the competence of the 

 authority to which he is called upon to give credit. On various 

 subjects, and more especially on the subject of those ovine diseases 

 which are as yet unknown in the United States, these pages will be 

 found enriched with the descriptions and the opinions of eminent 

 foreign agricultural writers and veterinarians. For the invaluable 

 privilege of thus availing myself of their knowledge, I, as weU as the 

 readers of this volume, owe them sincere acknowledgements. 



I was at some loss whether or not it would be expedient for me 

 to give descriptions of an extended list of diseases and remedies, the 

 former of which have not appeared, or, at least, have not been 

 recognized in our country. But judging from their increase thus far, 

 and judging from their analogies derivable from the history of diseases 

 in. other domestic animals, and in man, we have strong reasons to 



