Management of Sheep. 



3 



consumed. Amongst the more popular flocks at the present time 

 are those of the late Mr. Robert Burgess, of Cotgrave Place, 

 Notts ; Mr. Creswellj of Ravenstone, Leicestershire ; Mr. Bennett, 

 of Bickering's Park, and Mr. Pawlett, of Beeston, Bedfordshire ; 

 Mr. G. Turner, of Barton, Devonshire ; Mr. Robinson, of Car- 

 nabj, and Sir Tatton Sykes, Bart., Yorkshire; Mr. Stone, of 

 Barrow, and Mr. J. Buckley, Normanton Hill, Leicestershire; 

 and Mr. Hewitt, of Dodford, Northamptonshire. 



The general practice with the Leicester breeders, in what is 

 termed "^setting" their flocks, is to select those ewes which pos- 

 sess the best form, quality of flesh, propensity to fatten, and light- 

 ness of offals, with fine long wool. So decided are the best 

 breeders in favour of asymmetrical appearance in their flocks, that 

 many exceedingly good animals are drafted in consequence of 

 some little want of uniformity in their general outline, or owing 

 to their possessing some line of blood which has proved injurious. 

 It is not uncommon with the ram-breeders to draft the whole pro- 

 duce from a sheep that has disappointed them, and they are ex- 

 ceedingly cautious in using young sheep that have not been proved, 

 preferring to see their produce, that they may proceed with a de- 

 gree of certainty. In stating the mode of managing the Leicester 

 flocks, it would be difficult to trace them to any particular locality, 

 as they are to be found in nearly every district of the United 

 Kingdom, though they are principally kept upon the turnip -soils 

 of the midland counties. When the ewes have been selected for 

 breeding, it is usual to give them better keeping, as those ewes 

 which are placed upon fresh keeping take the ram a week earlier 

 than those upon the stubbles. 



The rams having also been selected to suit the flock, particular 

 attention is paid by the breeders to have ewes drawn to those rams 

 which are best suited to correct their faults. 



The general custom is to turn the rams loose with the ewes in 

 the field about the 1st of October. With well-bred animals, 

 however, this is found to be a bad practice, as it too frequently 

 occurs that, in consequence of their high condition, the ewes prove 

 barren. When forward lambs are required, the rams are put with 

 the ewes early in September : by far the better plan, and one which 

 is pretty generally adopted by the most successful breeders, is to 

 keep the rams in a convenient paddock, properly divided, and place 

 a teazer with the ewes, which are regularly brought up to the stocks 

 as they are noticed, there to be superintended by the shepherd, 

 according to the previous selection and arrangement — a daily 

 register being kept of the proceedings. 



When the ewes come up slowly they are served twice ; but 

 during the busy part of the season once is considered suflficient, 

 as when the rams are in active work the ewes are more certain to 



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