On the Breeding, Feeding, S^-c. of Sficep. 
3/3 
into pens of about half an acre each, into which were put about 
10 lambs, and taking the turnips and other food to them ; and 
feeding other lambs in the field, in the usual manner, where the 
turnips grew. It would take up too much space to enumerate 
them, and as the system cannot be reduced to general practice on 
account of the many disadvantages arising from it and from the 
extra expense, I see no advantage in relating them. The result 
of my experience is, that sheep will thrive a little faster if fed on 
grass-land in winter, as described, than they will if kept on the 
turnip-land, but the increase of weight is of inferior importance to 
the extra trouble and expense incurred. 
It has been my custom for some years to sow a field with tares 
immediately after harvest for early spring feed, upon which I 
usually put those lamb-hogs which I wish to get the most forward 
in condition as eaily in the spring as the season will allow me. 
My land being adapted to the growth of tares, particularly the 
farm I have latelv left, by sowing them early they grew a good 
deal before the winter set in. so that I often have had my lambs out 
upon the tares as early as the middle or end of February ; but I 
always gave them swedes or carrots with the tares, as much as 
they would eat, and have found them go on, managed m this way, 
better than in any other system of management. 
In the year 1S33 I made an experiment of the feeding quali- 
ties of the red or broad clover against the white or Dutch clover; 
both sorts were well planted, and the white clover grew very 
strong. I drew two lots of lambs on the 15th of April, and 
weighed them ; one lot was penned upon the red clover, and the 
other lot was penned upon the white clover, both pens being 
nearly equal in size ; they were weighed again on the I4th of June 
following, and I found they had increased in weight as follows. 
Experiment, i\'o. 13. 
Lot of lambs fed on white clover Lot of lambs fed on red clover 
gained each on the average gained each on the average 
3Qi lbs. " 35^ lbs. 
From this it appears that there is scarcely any difference in the 
feeding qualities of either sort. 
The custom of early shearing sheep is becoming more general 
than it was a lew years ago, and there is a great advantage in 
doing so, as I am convinced the sheep thrive much faster during 
the summer if their wool is taken off on the 1st day of May than 
if it were to be left on until the first or second week in June, as 
the flics will not trouble them so much upon their breasts and 
flanks. In some districts or situations much inconvenience as 
loss arises from the annoyance of these insects; and I do not 
know of any dressing that will keep them off, except for about 
