Aylesby, Ribij, and Rothioell Farms. 
431 
Sheep. 
The flock consists of 1200 breeding ewes, of which 500 are 
pure Leiccsters, kept entirely at Ajlesbj. No lean stock is 
sent to market, the whole of the lambs being fed on the farms, 
as well as some lean ones in addition, which are bought in the 
autumn to make up for losses, &c. At Riby the proportion of 
gimmers annually introduced into the flock is fully one-third ; 
but at Aylesby it is less, as fine breeding ewes are kept on to an 
indefinite age. The crop of lambs is about 10 per cent, in excess 
of the number of ewes put to the ram. 
The sheep are all taken off turnips and swedes by about the 
middle of April, when the hoggs, except the smaller " she- 
boggets," are sent to the marshes. The latter are fed at Aylesby 
and Riby, after the breeding ewes ; but these are put on the 
pastures earlier, about a fortnight or three weeks previous to 
lambing, and have an allowance of mangolds carted to them 
daily. The ewes and lambs are kept on seeds, which are entirely 
stocked by them, and on the grass lands at Aylesby and Riby, 
the ewes with couples having an allowance of oats and peas. The 
draft ewes from the lamb-pens are sent to the marshes. A system 
of changing the pasture of the sheep is carried out as far as prac- 
ticable, and is regarded by Mr. Torr as one of the most essential 
points in good sheep-farming. Early in July the lambs are 
weaned on May-sown rape and clover-eddishes. 
The hoggets are put on turnips in September, the Banbury 
cutter being kept fully employed in cutting the roots outside the 
nets. The troughs are placed in the fold, which was more or less 
cleared the previous day, and a small quantity of oilcake is allowed 
per head. The shearling ewes are put on turnips next, and before 
the older ones, which get a smaller allowance and begin later. 
The draft-ewes which still remain begin to feed off the July-sown 
rape early in November, clearing it, and being all sent to market 
before Christmas day. 
D uring the winter months the sheep are killed at home, and 
tbe carcasses are sent to the London market in baskets ; but in the 
summer they are sent to market alive, chiefly to London. 
The majority of the breeding ewes of the Riby flock are placed 
in the marshes with the rams after the feeding sheep are gone, 
and remain there nearly until Christmas. They then return to 
Riby and are put on turnips, as already stated. The remainder 
of the Riby breeding ewes and the whole of the pure Leicesters 
are put to the ram on the grass lands of Riby and Aylesby re- 
respectively, and remain on them until very late in the season. 
From 80 to 90 pure Leicester rams are annually bred at 
Aylesby, and are annually let by private contract on the first 
