244 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 29. 
crops, sucli as Rye, Trifolium, and Tares, must be made, 
with Mangold Wurtzel of the last year’s growth kept in 
reserve, or else, such is their requirements, when de¬ 
pending upon grass feed alone, that but little grass can 
he reserved for Hay to supply the stock of the suc¬ 
ceeding year. 
It is, therefore, quite clear, from the foregoing ob¬ 
servations, that Down Ewes for breeding are best 
adapted for large farms, where a portion of the stock 
consists of Wether Sheep, &c., which are usually sold 
off out of Turnips, thereby diminishing the pressure 
upon the summer keeping. And they are also well cal¬ 
culated for farms containing a considerable proportion 
of pasture laud, which may be fed during the summer 
season. 
The next thing to be named is the selection of stock. 
There are various kinds of Down Ewe9 in ordinary 
use. Those for producing Lambs in the months of 
December and January, being bought in as stock chiefly 
from the breeding districts of Dorset, Somerset, and 
part of Wilts, are for the most part of Southdown 
origin, although of late many of these flocks have been 
much improved by the introduction of the improved 
Hampshire blood, whereby the size and value of the 
Ewes have been much increased; and it is found they 
will bring their Lambs quite as early after being 
crossed in this manner, the propensity for early breed¬ 
ing being attributable to the soil and climate of the 
before-named counties. When Ewes are required for 
rearing Lambs for sale in the summer months, and for 
feeding in pasture districts, it is usual to select the 
improved stock of the Hampshire Down breed, which is 
peculiarly adapted as breeding stock for the high chalk 
hills of Hampshire, Berkshire, and part of Wiltshire. : 
This breed is the best for producing Lambs of large 
size, and where great weight is desirable; but, to be 
killed as Lamb, they do not usually come to hand so 
quick as the breed of Southdown origin. 
It has been found a good plan, instead of waiting 
until the autumn for the purchase of Lamb Ewes of 
the Hampshire breed, to buy them in the month of 
July, and take them into enclosed grazing farms, keep¬ 
ing them high, and turning the Tup with them imme- j 
diately; by which management, some of the best and 
earliest down Lambs I have ever seen have beeu ob¬ 
tained. The climate and soil of most of the enclosed 
arable farms of the southern and eastern counties is 
such as to almost ensure the Ewes having Lambs at 
the earliest period, although they might have been 
selected from stock bred upon high and exposed situa¬ 
tions, and where the regular breeding flock does not , 
lamb until late in the season. 
When Ewes are bred between the Southdown and 
Hampshire, I would put them to Rams of the same 
cross for producing fat Lambs; on the other hand, if 
the Ewes are of the Hampshire breed, it is best to use 
a pure-bred Sussex Down Ram. I would here caution 
parties agaiust the reverse of this, for I have known | 
great losses in lambing ensuo when the large Hamp¬ 
shire Rams have been used with pure-bred Sussex 
Down Ewes. 
The mode of keeping the Ewes previously to lambing 
should be carried out with great regularity, for although 
generous, and, indeed, high feeding may be necessary 
to induce the Ewes to have early Lambs, yet, after 
they are proved to be pregnant, very luxuriant food 
often proves disadvantageous, causing loss both of Ewes 
and Lambs. 
I, therefore, advise, that at any stage of pregnancy 
the Ewes should be kept upon close, bare keep during 
the greater part of the day ; and that when it is neces- ! 
sary to feed off grass which may be gross, it should be 
left until late in the season, and when it has been under 
the influence of night frosts for a time. It will prove 
more hearty and healthy food, and should be given in 
limited proportions once a-day, being divided off by 
hurdles, similar to the method adopted in feeding-ofl 
Turnips. The Forward Horned Dorsets usually lamb 
early enough to feed all the best grass with their Lambs 
at their side, and thereby make a profitable use of it. 
The Down Ewes, however, generally consume all the 
grass upon the farm before they lamb, and olten require 
roots and Hay afterwards. I cannot admit it to be a 
good plan to allow them to feed the Clover seeds ; these 
should be reserved as a turn-out for the Ewes and 
Lambs, for about a week or ten days previously to their 
going together into the Turnips. Regard must be had, 
however, to the weather, for, in case of frost, the Clover 
will receive great damage by feeding, and it is, at the 
same time, the worst lying the young Lambs can have 
during frosty nights. 
It is necessary that this stock should have a dry, 
sheltered, roomy fold-yard provided for the lambing 
season. A shed, ten or twelve feet wide, enclosing two 
or three sides of a square, is best; the bottom should 
be covered about six inches in depth with peat soil, or 
dry loamy earth; this will not only absox’b the urine, 
but will assist in keeping the fold dry. The fold should 
then be littered over with straw, and a fresh supply 
continually added as cleanliness requires. 
A provision should be made near the fold of roots 
or Cabbages, in case of frost and snow; the latter is to 
be preferred, because they are more wholesome food for 
the Ewes before lambing. I cannot recommend the 
practice of giving roots in this case, for I have known 
a great loss of Ewes from premature lambing after 
having been fed upon Turnips. It must, however, be 
allowed, that of all the roots Swedish Turnips are the 
best for the purpose; and it is important that the Ewes l 
should have a run upon pasture land during the day, ' 
and when feeding upon roots they ought to receive a ; 
liberal allowance of good Hay. 
Joseph Blundell. j 
| 
{To be continued.) 
