Year: 1868

This is without doubt the most i'm
portant branch of Sheep Husbandry,
ana one upon which too much attention
cannot be bestowed. In order to breed
sheep successfully it is necessary that
several important particulars be strictly
attended to. When / say successfully,
do not speak merely in regard to in
crease in numbers, for some of the
poorer breeds of sheep will produce as
many lambs as those greatly superior to
them; but in the production of those an
imals which possess as many as possible
of those valuable properties which dis
tinguish the breed.


The first and most important of these,
and the one upon which the future sue
cess of the flock in great measure de-
pends, is the selection of the flock Of
breeding ewes.


These should be chosen with reference
to the following particulars: The frame
work of the body should be of sufficient
size to admit of the f9tus being prop
erly developed; reference should also
be had to the tactical properties; and
they should also be examined with ref
erence to their wool and tiesh-producing
properties; also evince quiet disposl-
tion and not lie given unduly to wan
dering.


Without the possession of the first
two properties it is impossible that
anything but stinted animals can be
produced; without the two second, all
that is valuable in q sheep and for
which alone sheep is raised, will, if not
lost, be greatly impaired; and without
the last there is danger of the lambs,
after being dropped, being left o perish.
Sheep possessing a quiet disposition
also take on fat more rapidly.


The next particular, and one which
is almost as important as the first, is
the selection of the ram. | say almost
as important; for the question is only
in respect to degree; for without doubt,
if the ram is inferior to the ewes, the
lambs will also be inferior to them; and
as the rams influence is felt as fully on
the future flock as the ewes, so also is
it comparatively simple matter to Sc
lect a ram of desirable qualities as it
would be to select a flock of ewes pos
sessing like Qualities.


1t is necessary that great care be taken
in selecting ram. 1t is not only neces-
s3ry that as many desirable qualities as
possible be combined in himself, but it
should also be ascertained that his
parents possessed like qualities, for it
is by no means reasonable to suppose
that the lambs gotten by perfect an
imal will possess like points without
those points have been regularly trans
mitted to him by his parents.


If the necessary care has been taken
in the selection of the ram and ewes, it
is but reasonable to suppose that the
lams will be superior animals, provided
the proper amount of care and atten-
ton has been bestowed upon the ewes,


The raising of lambs will be materially
assisted by attention to one or two
points. 1t should be seen to that they
are comfortably sheltered during in
clement weather; they should have au
airy apartment, yetit should be sutti-
cienrly close to exclude all draft and
any excess of cold.


While with their mothers and on good
grass, lambs will not require any extra
feeding, although the addition ola little
grain will be of benefit; but during
those seasons Of the year when it Is nee.
cssary to keep them confined, care
should be taken in selecting their food,
and that kind should be chosen which
has Il tendency to increase more espe-
cially the bone and muscle than the fat.
j. s., in the Germantown Telegraph.