24 



Management of Sheep. 



more than 18 months old, and having experienced it in the pro- 

 duce from a first cross, I attach but little importance to this 

 opinion, but think it more likely to arise from the malformation or 

 growth of the animal's head, it not being known to occur after the 

 animal has done growing. 



The Blind. — This disease makes its appearance amongst the 

 young sheep more particularly, but it is hard to tell how they 

 acquire it ; the animal sinks rapidly under its progress, unless it 

 be arrested at an early stage, which may be done by an applica- 

 tion of common tar, rubbed round the outside of the eye, to be 

 repeated in about four or five days, when they will recover their 

 former energies. 



Red-Water is known most upon turnip-soils, during the time 

 the animals are feeding them off ; an accumulation of this water 

 takes place, and cannot be passed off without aid, which may be 

 accomplished by the followmg receipt, when taken in time : — 

 1 oz. of common salt, i pint of water, and \ a tablespoonful of 

 turpentine, well mixed in quantity for the number, and freely 

 shaken when used. 



The best preventive is a constant supply of salt, either given 

 in chaff, or rock-salt placed in troughs to be licked at leisure. 



Sore Heads and Fly-galls. — These are troublesome complaints, 

 which are much better avoided than cured. In woodland situa- 

 tions capping at an early period is decidedly the best plan, but it 

 should not be done later than the 1st of June or when the sheep 

 are shorn ; then by attention to keep the caps on their heads, very 

 little annoyance will be experienced ; but never place a cap upon 

 a sore head. When this plan is not adopted, the heads and flanks 

 of the whole flock should be dressed with a mixture or prepara- 

 tion of the dregs of whale-oil and brimstone, sufficiently thick for 

 use, to be applied with a round brush from a suitable tin or pot. 

 My practice is to clip the flock early, and then dip them at once 

 with Bigg's composition, before they are affected with the flies, 

 and apply the preparation to their heads, which is repeated every 

 fortnight to the heads and flanks during the fly-time ; they are 

 kept by this plan perfectly clean. When fly-galls have commenced, 

 a small quantity of spirits of tar may be mixed with the brimstone 

 and whale-oil and applied to the parts. When they are very bad, 

 a plaster of the following preparation will be found useful : — 

 Horse turpentine, tar, and wheat-flour, well mixed together. 



Having endeavoured so far to comply with the Society's in- 

 structions contained under the head of '*^The Management of 

 Sheep," I proceed to give the result of my own practice. 



Before what is termed " setting a flock " in any locality, due re- 

 gard should be paid to the soil, situation, and climate on which 

 they are to be produced, as that alone should govern the decision 



