i 
516 = 250 Practical Agriculture. 
Selection and described : — Immediately upon weaning the lambs in summi 
for breediift' (which is done at an early period for the purpose of getting tl 
" ewes in good condition for breeding), the ewes undergo 
very careful inspection ; any animal indicating weakness, fn 
age or other incapacity, is removed from the flock and placi 
on good keeping, to be fattened off for the butcher, 
animal of weak constitution, or showing signs of disease 
any kind, or possessing any malformation in form or featui 
or tumour or ulcer, is retained for breeding purposes ; nor 4 
any ewe (unless for some special object) put to the ram aft \ 
the age of 5 years at furthest. The most common and prof 
able course is to tup them when yearlings, and sell or h\f 
them off at 3 or 4 years old ; as by this means the flock f 
kept in ^reat vigour, and a sound and strong constitution ? 
preserved. The practice of using ewe lambs for breeding 
sometimes adopted, but is reprehensible. A ewe should hi 
attained actual and healthy maturity, namely, about 18 mont' 
old, before being put to the ram, so as to be nearly 2 years c 
when she brings forth her first lamb. By breeding from animih 
when very young, the whole growth of frame is held back, a 
the vital powers are weakened. 
Age of rams The rule is to put every eligible shearling ewe to the ra 
used. Rams are chiefly used as shearlings ; older rams being genera 
such as have come up specially good sheep, or have acquired so; 
fame in prize-lists. ^ With the heavy breeds a disadvantage is 
perienced from the modern system of feeding up rams till tl B' 
are too fat to work well. The practice of using ram lambs is 1 1 
in vogue than formerly, though still common among mountj 
flocks, as in Wales. 
Forwarding As the time approaches for putting ewes to the ram, and w! 
ewes for the ^\ danger from drying their milk has subsided, they cam 
be put upon pasturage too rich for them, or they are suppl i; 
Avith turnips or cabbages ; and the faster they thrive the in>^ 
security is there for their safety in breeding, for a larger proporti 1 
of twins and threes, and the finer, stronger, and healthier sin J 
lambs will they produce. At all hazard, and under any inconvi - 
ience, the ewes are kept on good pasturage while with the ra^ 
A bite of white-mustard is excellent for forwarding the ewes, sj^! 
disposing them to take the ram, and is also propitious towa 
a prolific fall of lambs. The ewes ought to be thus flusl 
for two or three weeks before the ram goes to them, and the hij 
feeding should be continued for a few weeks after he has left thf 
Matching ewes Some flock-masters put a number of rams indiscriminat 
and rams. among the whole flock of ewes; giving up all attempts t, 
selection and matching of the dams and the sires according 
tlie deficiencies or superior points of each. But, even when MM 
