592 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
quantity of spring food. It is likewise important that lambs 
should be dropped as early as possible, so that they may be 
well nursed, and able to provide for themselves before the 
winter commences. 
THE EWE. 
The ewe generally produces one lamb at a birth, some¬ 
times two, and rarely three or four. She goes with young 
five months, and brings forth in spring. Some, however, 
produce their lambs at Christmas. 
LAMBING. 
When ewes are far gone in parturition, they should be 
moved about as seldom as possible, and fed upon dry ground, 
and in a quiet, retired situation, as much annoyance is apt 
to make them miscarry. When they happen to part with 
their lambs prematurely, they should be taken into the 
house if the weather be cold; but if the weather be mild 
and dry, they may be allowed to remain on the pasturage, if 
it is in a favourable locality. When ewes are about to yean, 
they should be located on as dry and smooth ground as 
possible, which will be of much benefit to them, as well as 
to their lambs. 
When lambs are dropped on a place where they have 
difficulty in rising, they ought to be lifted, placed on their 
feet, and carried close to their dams. But when they can 
rise without aid, it is better to let them alone. It is usual 
to dock lambs when two or three days old ; and the remain¬ 
ing portion should not exceed two or three inches in length. 
It is of much consequence for ewes to have short tails, as it 
not unfrequently happens that lambs at birth are entangled 
by the tails of the ewes, and in this way get strangled or 
killed The tails of the males need not be docked until they 
