104 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



number is a sufficient tax upon his pow- 

 ers ; juore than this is liable not only to 

 permanently injure the male, but also to 

 produce a feeble progeny. 



The period of gestation for ewes is 

 twenty-one weeks ; so that, where it is 

 desirable, the birth of the lambs should 

 occur early in May, the bucks are turned 

 into the flock about the first of Decem- 

 ber. 'This period may be varied a little 

 either way according to locality and cli- 

 mate. As young ewes are more apt to 

 be careless and improvident mothers, neg- 

 lecting, aud sometimes disowning their 

 lambs ; more attention is required for 

 them than for older sheep. Many of the 

 English shepherds separate the former in 

 the fall, and serve them a week or two 

 later, in order that the season shall be- 

 come further advanced, and the lambs 

 less exposed to a chill and adverse tem- 

 perature. The ewes with lambs should 

 be kept quiet, not subjected to fright or 

 excitement, well fed and comfortably 

 sheltered. The successful rearing of a 

 fine young flock will amply repay the 

 farmer for all his care, 



Where twins are produced by some of 

 the sheep, while at the same time others 

 have lost their lambs, it is a good plan 

 to take one of the twins from the former 

 and give it to the latter. Some difficulty 

 is ' occasionally experienced to get the 

 lamb adopted, but it is usually overcome 

 by shutting it and the new mother to- 

 gether for a few days ; and in extreme 

 cases, binding the skin of the dead lamb 

 upon the back of its successor. Bucks, 

 by carelessness or inadvertence, occasion- 

 ally get mingled with the flock un- 

 seasonably, and occasion much trouble, 

 and sometimes loss. We once knew a 

 farmer's flock of ewes got with lamb in 

 September; and, as a consequence, they j 

 gave birth to their progeny in February, j 

 He kept them sheltered and well fed,; 

 making- roots and other succulent mate- 

 rials a portion of their food, turning all 

 his barns and out buildings into sheep- 

 hospitals, and devoted much time and at- 

 tention to the helpless lambs brought forth 

 in the midst of a rigorous winter. It 

 thus turned out that scarcely a Jamb was 

 lost, and at the subsequent washing and 

 shearing, that flock of lambs was the ad- 

 miration of all who saw them. One of 

 the ewes, after her lamb was born, failed 



to give it suck, although the udder was 

 distended, and apparently full of milk. 

 On an examination, however, and at- 

 tempt to milk the dam by hand, a thick 

 fluid exuded, nearly of the consistence 

 and appearance of candied honey, which 

 the lamb swallowed with avidity, although 

 its own strength was insufficient to draw 

 it from the teat., The lamb thrived upon 

 it, however, swallowing as it was pressed 

 out by the hand, until in the course of a 

 couple of days, the milk assumed its nat- 

 ural flow, and needed no further special 

 attention. This instance is cited, not for 

 the purpose of urging the month of Feb- 

 ruary as one propitious to the birth of 

 lambs, but only to show that even an un- 

 toward event, if properly managed, may 

 be turned to profitable account. 



Where lambs are designed especially 

 for the butcher, as early a period of birth 

 as is consistent with safety is desirable. 

 Like any other production in the market, 

 early and well-developed specimens com- 

 mand the highest price and the readiest 

 sale. We find by reference to our mar- 

 ket reports of last year, that fair spring 

 lambs fit for the shambles were, in Ro- 

 chester, worth, the season, commencing 

 about the middle of July, one dollar and 

 a half ; and in the New York market, from 

 two to five dollars each. Let us assume, 

 as a basis of calculation, for the profits of 

 lamb rearing for the market, the following 

 data in a flock of sixty common wooled, 

 well-developed ewes. These, if properly 

 cared for, will, by offsetting the twins 

 against the losses, raise ore lamb each. 

 Setting aside ten of the best ewe lambs 

 as substitutes for ten of the oldest dams, 

 whose powers will soon begin to fail, we 

 have left fifty for sale ; and the debtor 

 and credit sides of our account will stand 

 as follows : 



Stock account. Dr. 

 To sixty medium wooled ewes at $3 



each, $180 00 



Interest on investment one year, - - 12 60 



$192 GO 



Contra. Cr. 

 By 60 fleeces 3. lb each at 30c. f ft), - $54 00 

 - y -Ry 50 lambs for slaughter at $1 50, - 75 00 

 By 10 ewes displaced by lambs at $3 00, 30 00 



$159 00 



* Note. — The profit on lambs in many parts of Vir- 

 ginia is about double what is here stated.' — Ed. So. Pl. 



