150 
A COLONY IN THE MAKING 
CHAP. 
After the ewes have arrived on a farm, some time 
must elapse before they are ready to receive the tups, 
for the native owner has rams running continuously 
with his ewes, and it is advisable for all the resulting 
lambs to be dropped before a regular lambing season 
is instituted. This season usually takes place in the 
months of April and May, and of October, November, 
and December, when the grazing should be in the best 
condition for milking ewes. 
It will be observed that the farmer can make use of 
two seasons within the one year; and while dealing 
with his native and initial crosses he will probably 
decide to do so. There has been no sign as yet that 
constitution suffers in any way, though there certainly 
is a presumption that in pure breds or advanced grades 
the quality of wool will tend to deteriorate. In any 
case, the larger increase is too attractive to miss, and 
the practice even of the Government experimental 
farms is to take two crops of lambs from grade ewes. 
In order to maintain the two seasons, they must be 
very carefully regulated. Ewes with lambs at foot will 
take the tup at a month to six weeks after lambs have 
been dropped. In order to carry out the system of 
two seasons, such season cannot extend over a longer 
period than six or seven weeks ; the tup must accord¬ 
ingly be working among the ewes a clear fortnight at 
least before the end of the season. These regulated 
seasons must never be altered, and therefore the 
temptation to continue the tupping season another 
week at a time when the ewes are taking freely and 
well must be firmly resisted. Newly-imported rams are, 
more especially during their first season, uncertain 
stock-getters. It is therefore a desirable practice to 
run reliable rams with the ewes during the last week of 
