January 19. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
descriptions of soils may be made to yield the largest 
amount of produce for Sheep-keeping in the winter and 
spring months, and are, consequently, capable of sus¬ 
taining a large increase of stock, although it may take 
place a month or six weeks earlier than usual. It is, 
therefore, best to decide upon tho breeding season, and 
regulate it as much as possible according to the in¬ 
fluence of the before-mentioned circumstances. The 
method of feeding and general management of the 
Ewes, from this period until Lambing-time, having 
boen rather fully treated upon in my former contribution 
upon their treatment on grazing farms, I intend, now, 
to make only a few. general observations, showing the 
distinctions nocessary to be made between a Grazing 
and Breeding flock. In the breeding flock there is 
always a proportion of young Ewes, which circumstance, 
coupled with the fact of the difference in the nutritious 
and forcing properties of the food produced upon grazing, 
as compared with breeding, districts, greatly reduces the 
risk of disease and loss in the latter at the Lambing 
time, particularly if due regard be paid to keeping of 
the flock, and to the change of food, and regularity in 
the time of feeding, 
I must, however, here remark upon the practice of 
stock breeders who feed their meadow-land in the 
autumn and winter months; for I have known flocks 
often become unsound from this circumstance, whon 
the season has been continuously wet. Yet it is not, in 
my opinion, the mere fact of feeding tho stock in the 
meadows which has induced the ltot, or disease of the 
liver, so much as the want of judgment displayed by 
the flockmaster, in not allowing a regular change of 
food, whereby the meadow-grasses are made available in 
conjunction with the produce of arable land at the same 
time. I hold the opinion, that Ewes, when they are 
kept entirely in the meadows, in a wet season, for a 
period without change of food, or lying, will be subject 
to the llot; whereas, the produce of the same meadow- 
land may be consumed by the Sheep, if'they had at the 
same time the produce of arable land, with the further 
advantage of lying upon the same ; and, although strong 
arguments have been urged in support of the theory 
that the eggs of the flukes are taken into the system 
with the grasses of particular localities on which they 
are deposited, I am of opinion that it is neither more 
nor less than the animal taking into the system au undue 
quantity of water, which produces the fluke in the ducts 
of the liver, this being known to graziers as the incipient 
stage of the Rot in Sheep. 
I must here mention, that the best known antidote to 
this disease is feeding the animals upon salt marsh¬ 
land. Where this is not available, an admixture of a 
small portion of common salt with their ordinary food 
is advantageous. I further urge the great necessity of 
keeping lumps of rock-salt in the field, to which the 
stock can gain access at all periods of tho year. 
In continuing the subject, I must here observe, that 
the Rams must be taken away from the Ewes at such 
period as may be desirable, for upon most farms it is 
best that the Lambs should come well together, in order 
303 
that they may be all weaned at the same time. Erom this 
time, until the Ewes commence lambing, they should be 
kept in a moderate manner, and with great regularity, 
having regard to change and variety in food, rather than to 
the use of gross and luxuriant keep ; and it is best to keop 
them as long as possible upon the grasses, not allowing 
them roots until necessity compels, and when they are 
given, the Swedish turnips are the best for the purpose, 
together with a fair quantity of good sweot hay. After 
the above management has been carefully carried out, a 
prosperous and prolific Lambing season may be season¬ 
ably anticipated. It will then be necessary to be provided 
with a sheltered fold-yard, tho method of making and con¬ 
ducting which has boen described in detail in my former 
paper upon tho treatment of Down Ewes for grazing ; 
in addition to which, I have only to say, that additional 
space should be provided (in case of inclement weather) 
for the young Lambs, which, with their mothers, should 
receive accommodation by shelter and good feeding, 
until they are sufficiently strong to bear the exposure of 
open field feeding 
In stock flocks, where the Wether Lambs are 
reared for sale as stores, they should not be castrated 
so young as when intended for sale as fat Lambs. 
It should, therefore, be deferred until the Lambs 
arrive at the age of six or seven weeks. This method 
will greatly improve them for grazing purposes; 
the animal frame being more fully developed, and 
having more flesh and constitution, they will be able to 
carry a greater weight of mutton at a given age; and 
even in the poor state, when offered for sale, the general 
appearance and outline of the animal will be better 
appreciated, and rendered more valuable to the pur¬ 
chaser. As soon as the Ewes and Lambs are able to 
enter the open field for root-feeding, &c., they should be 
kept in accordance with the rules of useful and modorato 
feeding; but, in some cases, high and even artificial 
feeding may be profitably resorted to when the land 
will bear the excess of manure. That portion of the 
Ewes which have Wether Lambs and twins suckling, 
may be advantageously divided from the other portion 
which have Ewe Lambs, and may be fed with oil-cake, 
and peas or beans in mixture, receiving also a full 
allowance of the best hay, and a continuous supply of 
cut turnips. These being the sale Lambs of the next 
summer or autumn, they will improve in value in pro¬ 
portion to the food given, if supplied to them with re¬ 
gularity and judgment. The remaining portion of the 
flock, being Ewe Lambs, may be kept somewhat different, 
and should have a liberal supply of the best hay, and 
cut turnips, which food will be sufficient to raise stock 
of good size and constitution, supposing the ordinary 
method of feeding has been acted on. The Ewes of 
both divisions of the flock will do well for themselves, 
and afford plenty of milk for their offspring, when 
allowed a sufficiency of turnips, and as much as they 
can eat of good field hay. They should, however, 
have common turnips for the first month or six weeks, 
after that time Swedish turnips are best, which should j 
be continued as long as they possess their nutri- I 
