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1811

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COLLEGE

SOURCE

A

GUIDE

FOR

Young Shepherds ;

OR

FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARACTER
AND VALUE OF

MERINO SHEEP:

WITH RULES AND PRECEPTS FOR THEIR
MANAGEMENT, AND THE TREATMENT
^->' OF THEIR DISEASES,

As well as of

SHEEP IN GENERAL.

C0LLE(J7ED

FROM THE LAfESf AND BESf IVRIfERS ON THESE

SUBJECTS, AND CONFIRMED BT THE

EXPERIENCE OF THE AUTHOR

AND HIS FRIENDS*

BY SAMUEL BARD, M. D.

NEW-YORK :

PRINTED AND SOLD BY COLLINS 8c CO.
NO. 189, PEAKL-STKEET.

1811.

JjifniS} of Neiv-Tofky ss.

B>

► E IT REMEMBERED that on the twentieth day of
May, in the thirty-fifth year of the Independence of the
United States of America, Collins & Co. of the faid
(L. S.) Diflrict, have depofited in this office the title of a book,
the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words
and figures following, to wit . " A Guide for Toung Shep-
herds ; or Fach and Obfervations on the Character and Valut
of Merino Sheep : zvith Rules and Precepts for their Manage-
»;^;;f , and the Treatment of their Diseajes^ as nvell as of Sheep in General.
Collected fro^n the latejl and befl tur iters on thefe fub/e^is, and confrmed by
the experience of the author and his friends. By Samuel Bard^ M. D."
IN CONFORMITY to the Adt of the Congrefs of the United
States, entitled " An A(£l: for the Encouragement of Learning, by
fecuring the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the authors and
proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned."
And alfo to an A(5l, entitled *' An Ad-, fupplementary to an Ad:,
entitled an A&. for the Encouragement of Learning, by fecuring the
copies of Maps, Charts and Books to the authors and proprietors of
iuch copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the
benefits thereof to the arts of defigning, engraving, and etching his-
torical and other prints."

CHARLES CLINTON,
Clerk of the DifriSi of Nezv-Torl:

INTRODUCTION.

J. HE Merino sheep furnishes the wool from
which all the superfine cloths of Europe are
made ; and without which, cloths equally fine,
supple, and elastic cannot be made. This fact
sufficiently establishes the great value and im-
portance of this animal, and renders it a very
desirable object to every country, in which he
will thrive, to procure and rear him. But until
the present revolution in Spain, all other coun-
tries have been in a great measure, and until the
beginning of the last century were wholly de-
pendant on that country for this necessary article,
arising from an opinion that the fineness of the
Merino fleece, and the softness and elasticity of
the wool depended on the soil, climate, and
pasturage of Spain, and the journies he was there
compelled to take twice a year in search of food.
This opinion was first put to the test of experi-
ment in Sweden in the year 1723 ; in the years
1765 and 1768 Saxony followed her example,
and since that period. Merinos have been intro-
duced into Prussia, Austria, many of the Ger-
man States, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Eng-

jy INTRODUCTION.

land, and with such success as to prove beyond
all controversy that in all these countries Merino
sheep will not only thrive and increase, but that
with common care and proper management, the
animal will be greatly improved in his size and
shape ; whilst at the same time, in the progress
of near a century, even in the inhospitable climate
of Sweden, his wool has lost nothing of its pe-
culiar qualities and superior excellence.

Lastly, our own country has made the experi-
ment, and from the patriotic exertions of Chan-
cellor Livingston and Col. Humphreys, we have
now for more than eight years had an opportunity
of becoming acquainted with this most valuable
animal, of proving that he will thrive with us as
well as in any other country, and of learning the
necessary means of his preservation and improve-
ment ; just in time to participate in the oppor-
tunity which the present war in Spain and Portu-
gal has afforded to procure an ample supply from
the best flocks in Spain. The spirited enterprize
of our merchants has not suffered the occasion to
pass by ; and wc now possess a sufficient number
of Merino sheep, from the best flocks, to render
us, in no great length of time, not only independ-
ent of all other countries for so necessary an arti-
cle of our clothing, but probably, to become ex-
porters of fine wool to other countries.

Upon so interesting a subject, every step we
advance is of great consequence j although there-

INTRODUCTION. V

fore much has been ah'eady written, and we pos-
sess many excellent works of the English and
French agriculturalists upon it, and one in parti-
cular from the accurate pen of Chancellor Livings-
ton, I have likewise ventured to add my mite,
and to suppose that, by collecting and arranging in
a lucid order the facts and observations which are
to be found dispersed in the several works I have
met with, so as to form the whole into something
like a methodical system for the management of
sheep in general, and of Merinos in particular,
a treatise might be formed interesting to the pub-
lic, and particularly useful to many individuals,
who, with little knowledge of the subject, are
desirous of entering into so promising a specula-
tion : especially at this moment, when great
numbers of Merino sheep have just arrived
among us, and when many of our enterprising
young men are turning their thoughts from the
envious competition of professional pursuits,
from the hazardous speculations of the counting-
house, and from the enervating dissipation of a
city life, to the calm, safe, healthy, and delightful
occupations of rural employments.

Such are the pretensions of this little work,
and although the writer does not pretend to so
much experience as to say he has tested every
fact and observation which he has produced, or
even every rule which he has laid down, yet they

^2

VI INTRODUCTION.

all stand on good authority, and after several
years careful practice, he may probably be al-
lowed to form no inadequate judgment of their
truth and usefulness.

CHAPTER I.

Of the Characters and ^mlities of the Merino^ as
it respects size — Shape — Fleece — Disposition
to fatten— -Constitution — Temper — Longevity
' — Different flocks — and of the effects and emo-
lument of the cross with common sheep.

Character of the Merino,

IjESIDES the excellence of his wool^ the Meri-
no possesses many qualities which recommend
him to the attention of the farmer. In size, he is
rather a small sheep, as all fine and short-woolled
sheep are ; but this, so far from being a defect, is
one circumstance which should particularly re-
commend him to the farmers of the middle dis-
tricts of this country, whose pastures in general
are better calculated for small animals of every
description than for the large-boned, heavy
breeds, which have nothing to recommend them
but size and strength, and which will starve on
feed that will not only support to advantage less
animals, but which will actually make a return of
more, as well as better wool and mutton per acre
from small sheep, than stronger land will give
from such as are very large. Of this assertion
no better proof can be given than a fact stated by
Lord Somerville, who, when he first entered on
the breed of small, short-woolled sheep, had been

8 The Shepherds* Guide,

for twelve preceding years, raising a large iong-
woolled breed, with a mixture of BakewelFs cele-
brated New Leicester. He describes his farm,
situate in the vale of Taunton, one of the most
fertile spots in the kingdom ; yet he found these
large sheep depreciate in size at the rate of near
five pounds per quarter in every four years.
Upon making the change, he at once put 150
Ryelands, a small close-woolled sheep, upon the
same land which had carried only 45 of the large
breed ; and notwithstanding a severe winter, the
ewes maintained themselves tolerably well, and
the lambs, at weaning time-, were in the best order.
The Merino is a hearty feeder, and not deli-
cate in the choice of his food, but will feed on a
greater variety of plants than most other sheep,
and keep himself in good condition on moderate
pasture. From this circumstance, connected
with his disposition to fatten at an early age, very
considerable profits may be derived from wethers
by keeping them as a dry flock, until they are
three years of age. The shape of the Merino is
that point, which, in the eye of an English farmer,
or of those who have formed their opinion in
imitation of his, is most objected to. His throat
is thick, and incumbered with a loose pendulous
skin, or dewlap, accompanied by a corresponding-
hollow in his neck, nor in general among those
imported, do we find that strait back, round
shoulder, broad hip and loin, and full ham which.

The Shepherds^ Giiick, 9

most recommend sheep to the grazier and butcher;
yet his defects in these respects are to be attributed
rather to neglect in breeding, and hard usage,
than to natural constitution ; as among them many
well-shaped animals are to be found, and by
judicious selection in breeding, good keep, and
comfortable shelter, all may be so far improved as
to satisfy the most prejudiced eye. This is an
observation made in every country into which he
has been introduced, but has been most particu-
larly exemplified in the French national flock at
Rambouillet, by some gentlemen in England,
particularly by Lord Somerville ; and by Chan-
cellor Livingston in this country, whose sheep
from the Rambouillet flock, have increased con-
siderably in size under his judicious and careful
management, whilst at the same time they have
preserved the fineness and other qualities of the
wool unimpaired.

I have ventured to assert that the wool of the
Merino is that, without which the superfine cloths
of Europe cannot be made. It is known, however,
that other animals as well as some breeds of sheep,
such as those of Shetland, Iceland, and Cash-
mire, carry finer wool than the Merino, but the
fine wool of the two first exists but in small pro-
portion to the whole fleece, and is so mixed with
coarse long hair, as to unfit it for any considera-
ble mcinufacture ; we know too little of the Cash-
mire sheep to say how far they may rival the

10 The Shepherds' Guide,

Merino, whose fleece is not only remarkably fine,
but the fine wool is more equally spread over his
whole frame ,* and the weight of the fleece is
greater in proportion to his size than that of any
breed known ; his forehead, cheeks_, belly, and in
general, though not universally, his legs, down to
his very hoofs are covered with wool.

Mr. Laysterie informs us,that in the year 1801,
the Rambouillet flock yielded on an average 7
lbs. 8 oz. of unwashed wool ; that some animals
yielded 12 lbs. and one in particular 16 lbs. of wool
unwashed, and that he had seen in Sweden rams
that yielded 13 lbs. But we know that this wool
will lose from one half to three quarters before
it is fit for the manufacturer. Sir Joseph Banks
informs us that the average weight of the fleeces
of the ewes and wethers of the King of England's
flock, in the year 1 799, was but little more than 3
lbs. 3 oz. after being washed on the sheep's back,
and that this wool suffered a farther loss of near
one fourth by being properly scoured ; so that the
average of perfectly clean wool was not more
than 2t lbs. In speaking, therefore, of the weight
of the fleece, we must not only be careful to dis-
tinguish between washed and unwashed wool, but
we must likewise remember that a great differ-
ence exists between wool fit for the manufacturer
and that which by a slight washing is freed only
from some of the superficial dirt on the surface of
the fleece, whilst much of the yolk is still left in it.

The Shepherds^ Guide. 11

The yolk is a greasy secretion from the skin,
which, although occasionally found in other
breeds of sheep, especially when fat, always
abounds so considerably in the Merino as to be in
some measure characteristic of the species. It is
this substance which gives the peculiar softness to
his wool, which greatly improves its fulling and
felting qualities, and which, like all other whole-
some secretions^ is a sure mark of the health of
the animal ; so much so, that we are assured by
all who have had any experience on the subject,
that wherever the yolk is found to rise freely, we
may conclude the animal will thrive. It is from
the abundance and greasy nature of this secretion
in the Merino, that the surface of the best fleeces
assumes a blackish, or dark brown appearance ;
the yolk mixing v/ith, and retaining the dust and
soil, forms with it a crust, which, at the
same time that it gives a dirty appearance to the
animal, contributes to defend it from the ill effects
of heat, as well as cold and wet. Another and
most singular property of the Merino is, that he
does not shed his wool annually, as is supposed
to be the case with all other sheep. Mr. Laysterie
informs us, that in the year 1797, a ewe of Ram-
bouillet was left unshorn, and that the next year,
1798, her fleece unwashed, weighed 14 lbs. 10 oz.
the filaments twice the usual length : that ano-
ther, first shorn at the age of 30 months, yielded
21 lbs. 8 inches long ; although she was 5 months

12 The Shepherds' Guide.

of that period with lamb : and that in the year
1800, 8 ewes yielded fleeces of two years' growth,
weighing from 16 to 20 lbs. each, of double the
length of staple, and of equnl fineness with those
shorn annually. We are not informed that any
particular advantage has been derived from this
singular property ; but it is very probable that it
-will not be long before some new and beautiful
fabric will originate from it. The fibres of the
wool are remarkably waved, or curled, approach-
ing in some measure to the form of a cork-screw,
so that when drawn out, they will stretch to near
double the length that the wool stands on the
sheep's back. This circumstance occasions the pile
to stand erect and perpendicular to the part of the
skin to which it is attached ; and with the crust
of dirt and yolk, gives a peculiar firmness to the
feel, resisting the pressure of the hand like a soft
brush, which is considered a proof of the greater
closeness and fineness of the fleece. On opening
the fleece, the wool beneath appears very thick,
greasy, and tinged of a brilliant yellowish hue, by
the yolk, but when this is washed out it leaves the
Avool of a beautiful xvhiteness. The skin beneath
is of a fine rosy colour, and remarkably soft and
loose, which condition of the skin strongly indi-
cates good health, and is always connected with
another excellence of this sheep, a disposition to
fatten at an early age. On this point all wri-
ters agree. Lord Somerville assures us that he

The Shepherds^ Guide, 13

has found the Merino hi this respect to equal, if
not exceed any short-woolled sheep in England,
especially as it regards fattening at an early age ;
his mixed Merinos fattening well at the age of 18
months ; a most valuable point as it respects pro-
fit, because it gives quick returns, and puts it in
our power to derive a profit from the butcher and
clothier from the same animal, and from the same
quantity of pasture, in the same year.

In constitution, the Merino is a peculiarly har-
dy sheep, of which no better proof can be given
than the treatment he is compelled to bear in
Spain, where every spring he is driven a journey
of four or five hundred miles, from the plains of
the south to the mountains of the north, and
back again in the autumn ; and that at the rate of
80 or 100 miles per week, and the journey in the
spring, when the lambs are not above four months
old. Few sheep but the Merino could bear such
treatment, by which, in the opinion of the best agri-
culturalists, confirmed now by long experience,
the form of the animal is much hurt, without any
improvement to his wool ; and as Lord Somer-
ville expresses it, he is really hunted into deform-
ity.

He bears all climates, from New-Holland in the
34th degree of south latitude, to Sweden, in 60"
north ; and in all, not only without any deprecia-
tion in the qualities of his form and fleece, but
under proper management, with a manifest im-

B

14- The ShepherdiP Guide,

provement to both ; and although he ought not un-
necessarily to be exposed to it, he bears cold and
wet better than most other sheep ; which superi-
ority he probably owes to the closeness and oili-
ness of his fleece. He bears to be folded on fal-
low grounds with a view to their enrichment, as
vrell, if not better than the most hardy sheep in En-
gland. But as this practice is only robbing one field
to enrich another, and on the whole is rather con-
venient than profitable ; and as it is confessed
to be ahvays more or less injurious to the sheep ;
while Merinos continue so valuable, a judicious
farmer will hardly put them to such severe duty :
but will be content with the manure which a well-
littered v/inter fold will furnish, and with that
constant and evident amelioration which they
give to the lands on which they are pastured in
the summer.

His mutton is peculiarly excellent. On this point
Lord Somerville remarks, that ** the quality of the
flesh in each class of sheep follows the character
of the wool ; that of the short-wooUed sheep being
close in the grain, heavy in the scale, and high fla-
voured ; that of long-wooUed sheep more open and
loose in grain, and large in size ; manufactures
mutton, fit for such markets as supply shipping and
collieries :" and Sir Joseph Banks states, that the
London butchers who had bought some of the
fatted Merinos from the King of England's flock,

The She phercW Guide* 15

anxiously enquired for more, because the mutton
was so much approved of by their best customers.

Although the rams are remarkable for courage
and vigour, yet as flocks. Merinos are timid and
quiet, and hence are less disposed to jump over
fences or break out of enclosures. They probably
owe this trait in their character to long habit, and
to having been constantly kept under the care of
shepherds and dogs : and it should suggest a cau-
tion to breeders not to suffer them to change this
admirable habit by running with unruly sheep,
and by good fences to confine them as much as
possible to their own pastures. The ewes, ac-
cording to an observation of Lord Somerville,
and which we have likewise experienced, are oc-
casionally barren, and more frequently bad nurses ;
from inattention to their lambs, as well as from
deficiency of milk. Better pastures, however, and
better treatment soon conquer these defects. In
the mean time, a new milch cow, or a foster mo-
ther must supply the deficiency of milk, and a few
days confinement in a small pen with the lamb,
frequently holding the ewe so as to let it suck, will
soon make her fond of it.

They are remarkably long-lived ; and agreea-
bly to this fact, Mr. Pictet of Geneva informs
us, that Merino sheep are longer in coming to ma-
turity than most other breeds, that they do not
acquire their full growth until they are three
years old j and that they shed and renew their

1 6 The Shepherds^ Guide,

teeth somewhat later than the native breeds of
France. Hence the ewes in general do not so soon
take ram, and the rams ought not to be put so
early to the ewes. They sometimes keep their
teeth until they are 14 or 15 years old ; and Mr.
Pictet mentions a ewe at least 16 years old,
when she had a lamb at her side. Mr. Hunt
likewise mentions two, which he purchased in
1805, then without teeth, and consequently not
under ten years old ; both these had lambs in
1808, and one of them in 1809 had twins : and
some ewes at Rambouillet, are said to have lived
to 18 years.

The last quality I shall mention of this admi-
rable animal is, that his skin is thinner, of a finer
grain, and makes better and more beautiful lea-
ther of that kind called Morocco than the skin
of any other sheep.

Among the flocks of Spain are to be found a
considerable variety in size, shape, quality of
wool and general appearance.

Mr. Laysterie informs us, that the best breeds
in Spain are those of the Escurial, the Gaude-
ioupe, the Paular, the Infantado, the Montano,
and the Negretti ; that the Escurial breed is ac-
counted as to fineness of wool the most perfect
of all the travelling flocks in Spain ; that the
Gaudeloupe sheep are remarkable for symmetry,
as well as for the quantity and quality of their
wool ; that the Pauli^r arc equally gifted with the

The Shepherds'' Guide* 17

two latter perfections, but differ from the preceding
in having a greater swell behind the ears, and
a more evident degree of throatiness ; that their
lambs, as well as those of the Infantado flock, are
generally produced wldi a coarse hairy appear-
ance_, which is succeeded by wool of an excellent
quality ; and that the Negretti flock is composed
of the largest and strongest sheep in Spain. He
adds, that the Paular, Negretti and Escurial, yield
wool so decidedly finer than any other, that for
this reason none of these piles were permitted to
be exported from Spain, but the whole ^vas retain-
ed for the royal manufactory at Guadalaxara.
But, as of late years, and particularly since the pre-
sent war in Spain^ many of each of these flocks
have been carried into France, England, and no
doubt other countries besides this ; we shall soon
have it in our power to judge of their piles from
our own experience. In the mean time I can on-
ly add, that Sir Joseph Banks gives the prefer-
ence to the wool of the Paular, and next to that of
the Negretti, and adds, that his opinions were con-
firmed by those of the British manufacturers.

Among the great number of sheep that have
lately been imported into this country, we find in-
dividuals belonging to the same flock differing
greatly in the size and symmetry of the carcase,
as well as in the weight and fineness of the
fleece : w^e therefore have it now in our power to

improve our flocks bv judicious selection, good

B 2

18 The S'hepherch'^ Guide,

keep, and proper management, in any point we
wish. Where large sheep are desirable, we may
increase the size, without any deterioration of the
wool, as has been done at Rambouillet in France ;
or where our pastures are best adapted to small
sheep, we may confine our attention solely to fine-
ness of fleece, to the equal distribution of fine
wool over the carcase, and to the increase of the
weight of the fleece in proportion to the size of
the animal. Such is the character of the Merino,
which he preserves in all its excellence, both of
wool and carcase, in all the variety of climates to
which he has been introduced^ but which, with
due attention, may be greatly improved in the
quantity of wool as well as in the fineness of pile,
in the size of the animal, in the symmetry and
beauty of his form, and in his disposition to fat-
ten : qualities which must surely recommend this
race to every prudent and intelligent farmer.
For notwithstanding the great number of Meri-
nos which have lately been introduced into this
country, the consequent fall in the price of the
sheep, as well as the present glut of wool, and the
low state of our manufactures ; which, for a short
time may make it difficult to get rid of either to
great advantage ; and which have rendered his
importation an unfortunate speculation to the
merchant : still it requires no great skill in arith-
metic to prove that rearing ?*'Ierino sheep, is the
most profitable business the farmer can engage

The Shepherds^ Guide* 19

in, especially for the gentleman farmer, who wish-
es to confine his attention to a single object, which
he can manage with less labour, more profit, and
more improvement to his soil than any other :
nor any great foresight to predict that it is a grow-
ing business, which a v^ery few years must ren-
der much more profitable than it is at present.

The Merino not only preserves his unrivalled
excellence in every country to which he has been
introduced, but he communicates them in a sur-
prizing degree to his descendants, of all the va-
rious breeds with which he has been crossed. Of
the truth of this most important fact our own ex-
perience has been sufficient to convince us ; but it
has been tried with so much more precision, and
established by so many and more accurate experi-
ments of the French and English agriculturalists,
that the best proofs are to be derived from them.

Mr. Laysterie observes, that the first cross im-
proves the wool to one half of that of the ram ;
that the progeny gives more, as well as finer wool
than the dam, and that the skin already begins to
assume the rosy hue : that the second cross con-
firms and improves all this, and that the third
and fourth crosses leave little or nothing to be de-
sired in quantity and quality of the wool, or in
similarity of form ; none but a very accurate ob-
server being able to see the difference.

Dr. Parry in England, Mr. Livingston in this
country, and every other practical writer on the

20 The Shepherds' Guide.

subject confirm these general observations. Lord
Somerville adds, that we arrive sooner or later at
the fineness of the ram's fleece^ according as that
of the ewe is more or less fine ; that when that is
close in textm*e, the mixed breed produces a great-
er quantity of wool than the dam ; and that in
all cases the fourth, or at most the fifth cross, gives
wool of equal fineness to that of the sire : that
this great improvement will be accelerated, by
choosing rams of the finest and best fleeces, never
allowing them to propagate until they have ar-
rived at their full growth, or near three years of
age, by coupling them with ewes of qualities as
much as possible resembling their own, by sepa-
rating the strong from the weak, by giving good
food, and allowing plenty of air and exercise.

Dr. Parry, of the Bath Agricultural Society,
has brought his mixed flock of Merino Ryelands
to so great a degree of perfection both as to shape
and wool, that he has declined any farther use of
the Merino ram ; which he is persuaded cannot
improve his wool, and may injure the shape of
his sheep. He adds, that in his Merino Ryelands,
the quantity of the wool as it respects the dam, is
equally increased as the quality is improved ; the
Ryeland sheep yielding about 2 lbs. the Merino
Ryelands of the 2d and 3d crosses yielding from
4| lbs. to 5 lbs. That the proportion of fine wool is
more equally spread over the animal, and bears
a much greater proportion to the coarse wool

The Shepherds^ Guide, 21

than in any other native sheep, and that he has
improved this point so much by judicious cros-
sing, that the full-blooded Merino falls behind his
Merino Ryela^ds in this respect.

The following statement by this gentleman,
places the advantages of crossing Ryeland ewes
with Merino rams in a very clear point of view.
A Ryeland ewe weighing sixty pounds, yielded
one pound and three quarters of wool, worth two
shillings and four pence per pound, four shillings
and one penny the fleece : a Merino Ryeland of the
same weight yielded four pounds, worth two shil-
lings and ten pence per pound, twelve shillings
and nine pence the fleece : more than three times
the value of its Ryeland ancestor. The difl'erence,
when compared w^th either of the best breeds in
England was still more considerable on the same
weight of carcase ; the Merino Ryeland carried
more than five times the value of the South
Down, and five and one half times that of Bake-
w^ell's celebrated sheep of the New Leicester.

Lord Somerville makes the comparison on a
different principle ; stating the produce in wool
per acre, from four different breeds of sheep :
South Downs, Ryelands, half-blooded South
Dov/n Merinos, half-blooded Merino Ryelands.
The South Down and Ryeland sheep carry the
finest wool of any of the native breeds of England ;
that of the South Down sells at Is. lOd. that of
tfie Ryeland at 2s. 2d. sterling per pound. Th.e

22 The Shepherds' Guide,

sheep were store ewes of each kind ; and from ac-
curate experiment he found that one acre of good
pasture-land, with an allowance of turnips for
^vinter food, at the rate of about fifteen sheep to
the acre, carried 6| South Down, 9 Ryelands, 7\
half-blooded Merino South Down^ lOf half-
blooded Merino Ryelands. The produce was as
follows.

6i South Downs, at 3^

pounds per fleece, at Is. 1 sterling.

lOd. per pound, pay 5s. ^l/. 15s. 9d. or §794

6d. each, or 35s. 9d. per I

acre. J

9 Ryeland store ewes at"^
2-^ pounds per fleece, at 1

2s. 2d. per pound, pay ^2/. 3s. lOid. or !S9 75
4s, lO^d. each, or 43s. I
lOid. per acre. J

7i South Down Merino^

ewes half-blooded, at 4 I

pounds per fleece, 3s. ^4/. 10s. Od. or ^20 0

per pound,pay 12s. each, |

or 90s. per acre. J

10 Ryeland Merino ewes,"]
half-biooded,at 3-Jpounds |

per fleece, and 3s. 2d. per J>5/. 2s. lld.or §22 86
pound,pay 10s. 3id each, j
or 102s. lid. per acre. J

And this great difference of proceeds, amount-
ing in each mixed breed to more than twice and on«
half that of the native sheep, accrued between the
half-bloods of each race and their natural ances-

The Shepherds* Guide. 23.

tor : what then will be the profit when we have
arrived at a flock of the fourth or fifth cross,
which yield wo.ol of equal value, and generally
more in quantity than that of the pure blood.
Lord Somerville answers the question by stating,
that on the above allowance of pasture for seven
months, and turnips in aid for winter food, the re-
turn will be ten guineas per acre.

The improvement in the carcase, and in the
disposition to fatten, is stated to be almost equal
to that of the wool, even when crossed with the
celebrated Dishlej^ breed. Wethers of this breed
are remarked to have fatted more kindly than the
pure Dishley, at the same time that they produced
as much wool of double the value : and these ex-
periments and calculations were made in En-
gland, w^here there existed a great prejudice
among the manufacturers against native fine wools
of this description, which had the effect of a com-
bination in the market, and kept down their prices.
They surely, however, are sufficient to convince
the most prejudiced, and to satisfy the cupidity of
the most craving. But let us bring the matter
home, and examine from a very simple statement
how the account of profit stands with us. Hi-
therto wool from our half-bloods has sold at one
dollar per pound, when that of our common
sheep was 3s. or Ss. 6d. but we will take the first
at only 6s. and that of common wool at 4s. and
laying aside all consideration of high prices for

24 The Shepherds' Guide.

the breed, state the profits in wethers of each
kind. Suppose then a well-kept common wether
to yield 5 pounds of wool at 4s. per pound, the
amount is 20s.: and suppose the half-blooded
wether to yield no more (which is not doing him
justice) at 6s. per pound, the amount is 30s. Now
deduct from each 16s. for their maintenance for
one year, which is quite as little, if not less than
they will cost ; the profit on the common sheep is
4s. ; on the half-blood Merino 14s. ; three times
and the half as much. Extend this to one hun-
dred sheep. The 100 common wethers will yield
in wool a profit of ^50 ; that of the 100 half- blood-
ed Merinos Sl7'5. Carry this on to the 4th or 5th
cross, when the wool equals the best Spanish, and
suppose that to sell for no more than it did in
England in the year 1802, when there was a plen-
tiful market 6s. 6d. sterling, or lis. 6d. currency
per pound : then the conr mon wether yielding as
above a profit of 4s. ; the Merino will give 41s.
6d. Extend this to 100 sheep of each kind : 100
common wethers yield as above, ^50 ; the 100
Merinos g;508 7S,

But again, that the field of objection may be
exhausted, it is asked, shall we not overstock the
market with fine wool ; and when we have con-
verted all our sheep into Merinos (if that time
should ever arrive) how are we to supply those
articles which require coarse wool ? To the first
question it may be answered, that in the three

The Shepherds' Guide. 2S

years ending in 1804, Great Britain imported
18,468,713 lbs. of Spanish wool : more than six
millions per annum. So that after we have sup-
plied our manufacturers, we shall not want a
market for our surplus for many years to come.
To the second inquiry we may answer in the
words of Lord Somerville, that cloths made of
fine wool are more beautiful, lighter, warmer and
stronger than such as are made of coarse wool ;
and that there is not a single article of manufac-
ture (not excepting carpets) in which coarse wool
is nov/ used, which would not be doubly valuable
if made of that which is fine. With any unpre-
judiced man, these statements must put the ques-
tion of profit, as it respects both the present time
and the future, at rest. For although the present
glut of Spanish wool in this country and in
Great Britain, as well as the dispersion of the
Spanish flocks over all the world may seem to
contradict these statements ; still that very dis-
persion, as well as the ruinous devastations of the
war, have so greatly diminished the numbers of
Spanish sheep, on the whole, that as soon as the
present supply of fine wool is expended, the arti-
cle must again rise in its price : and Great Britain
will probably look for a great length of time to
this country for a supply of fine wool. For food,
not articles of manufacture, is the great object of
her agriculturalists j and the taste of the whole na-

C

26 The Shepherds* Guide.

tion will not soon be so changed, nor the prejudice
of her farmers so far overcome, as to prefer Spa-
nish to English mutton.

CHAPTER IL

High and low keep — Summer pasture — Stock-
ing land — Weeds-— Small fields — Fences —
Sheds — Water— -Winter management — Fold
and accommodations — Rye — Rowen — Hay —
Corn — Roots, &c. — Quantity of food — Water
—Salt.

On the Maintenance and Support of Sheep*,

IT having been observed that the Merino flocks
in Spain are generally kept low, and seldom, or
never appear in high order ; it has thence been
falsely concluded that low keep is essential to
fine wool : but the low state of the Spanish flocks,
so far as that is the case, is rather the effect of
necessity than choice. The great numbers of
which their flocks consist, and the long and fa-
tiguing journeys they are compelled to take, in
which the old and the young, the strong and the
weak are driven together, cannot but prevent these
sheep acquiring, or at least retaining that state
of vigour and high health, to which they are natu-
rally disposed : and we have the testimony of Mr.
Laysterie in France, of Mr. Pictet in Switzerland,
and of almost every enlightened agriculturalist on
the continent of Europe, as well as of Lord Somer-
ville, Sir Joseph Banks, and Dr. Parry in Eng-

28 The Shepherds' Guide.

land, that whilst the Merino, from better food and
more skilful management under their care, has
improved in shape, increased in size^ and obtain-
ed a heavier fleece ; he has uniformly preserved,
and in many instances improved the fineness and
every other excellence of his wool. In proof of
this fact, Dr. Parry produced a piece of cloth to
the Bath Society in the year 1 806, made from
wool of his Merino Ryeland sheep of the 4th
cross, which exceeded that made from the best
Spanish piles ; and this from sheep which had
been kept in high order for more than 12 months
preceding : nor are we without sufficient testimony
as to this point from our own experience. No
sheep can be kept in higher order than those of
Chancellor Livingston ; yet now after seven years
their fleece will bear a comparison with the finest
from Spain or any other country. On the other
hand, it must be confessed that Mr. Shepherd, a
very respectable English manufacturer of super-
fine cloths, and at the same time a skilful farmer,
contends that high keep will depreciate the quali-
ty of wool ; that from this cause his own half-
blooded Merinos had fallen off so much in four
) ears, that at the same rate, in four more, it would
return to the quality of the maternal fleece : and
that after three years hard work, and high keep,
he saw a manifest depreciation in the quality of
the wool of a full-blooded ram he had purchased
from the King's flock. He corroborates his opin-

The Shepherds' Guide. 39

ion by an acknowledged fact ; that after an open
winter, whtn the large flocks of sheep that are fed
on the downs and open pastures of England can
get plenty of food, they are always found to yield
a larger quantity of wool, and at the same time
universally, of a coarser quality.

But as Mr. Shepherd stands alone in this opin-
ion,^ in opposition to the experience of almost
every other breeder ; allow^ing the fact to be true,
we must suppose some deception has misled his
judgment in his conclusion : and Dr. Parry has
clearly pointed out whkt that is. The Doctor al-
lows that the wool of the same individual sheep
will be always comparatively fine or coarse, as he is
at one time poor and lean from want of food, or
disease ; and at another in high order and fat, from
good health and high feeding : so that the fineness
of a sheep's fleece of any given breed, will within
certain limits be found to be inversely as its fat-
ness. But this is always a matter of comparison
between the fleece of the same sheep at one time
and another ; according to his state of health and
degree of fatness : and a very different circum-
stance from a change in the natural constitution
oftheanimal producing a permanent depreciation
of his own wool, and in that of his race. It is
likewise acknowledged on all sides, that wool
which is fine, in consequence of low keep, or ill
health, is always unequal in the pile, and deficient
in proof or strength. Good thriving store order,

C2

30 The Shepherds^ Guide*

which is manifested by a whole fleece, a lively eye,
and nimble motions, is therefore allowed on the
score of health to the sheep, as well as that of the
value of his fleece to be the best condition in which
Merinos or any other sheep can be kept.

But although good keep and judicious manage-
ment unquestionably improve this animal in all
respects, yet let it not be supposed that he is proof
against improper and scanty food, or neglect and
mismanagement. Mr. Laysterie informs us, that
he had found Spanish sheep in Sweden, Saxony,
and France, which had manifestly depreciated ;
and that of two hundred Spanish sheep imported
into France so early as the year 1776, and which
were divided among the farmers of diff"erent dis-
tricts, all except those committed to the care of
Mr. Daubenton had degenerated ; whilst his had
succeeded to his most sanguine expectation.
That this degeneracy in France, as well as else-
where, could manifestly be traced to insufficient
and bad food ; to w^ant of care and attention ; to
unwholesome and confined sheep-houses, in which
the sheep were suff'ered to lie in their dung ; or to
exposure to the inclemencies of the season with-
out any shelter at all ; whence the sheep had de-
generated in size and shape, and their wool be-
come less fine, less soft to the touch, and deficient
in strength. That he had seen many flocks in
Sweden, and had constantly observed that those
i^nimals which were under the care of inattentive

The Shepherds'' Guide, 3 1

persons had degenerated j whilst those flocks
>vhich were kept by careful breeders had preserv-
ed all their primitive excellence : that he had made
the same observation in Germany and in Hol-
land ; and that his opinion had been confirmedby
the best agriculturalists in those countries. That
even in Spain, the Merino had been known to de-
generate from similar causes, and that he had
seen flocks in that country, as well as in Sweden,
producing wool of a very inferior quality. He
therefore thus concludes : " Let me advise those
who adopt the Merino race, to guard themselves
against an opinion that it will preserve the excel-
lence of its fleece, if it is subjected to wrong treat-
ment, or abandoned to negligence and ignorance,"
In stocking lands with sheep, as well as with
any other kind of animal, the variety of the crea-
ture must be adapted to the nature of the soil, or
v/e shall not get so great a return as the land is
capable of making. Deep and strong land is re-
quired for large long-wooUed sheep : on light land
they will constantly depreciate ; and all attempts
to raise them to profit, and in perfection on such
pastures will fail. On the other hand, light loamy
soils, hilly and mountainous districts, are fittest
for small close-woolled sheep ; and the quantities of
wool and mutton raised on such pastures, from
small sheep, will be made up in the greater num-
ber they will support. There can be no question
ihcrefore, on such soils, with regard to the profit of

32 The Shepherds' Guide,

raising Merinos, which on the most moderate
computation, calculated on the returns of wool
and mutton only, will yield five or six times the
profit of common sheep. Cold soils, especially
those that lie on a wet bottom, or which are cover-
ed with water during the winter, are unfit for
she cp of any kind : on such they are liable to that
terrible disease the rot, of which happily we know
but little as yet in this country. Instances arc
recorded of v/hole flocks perishing with the rot,
from feeding but a short time on cold wet lands :
and Lord Somerville mentions one instance of a
farmer who losthis whole flock, merely by feeding
one night on a wet common adjoining his lands ;
all the ev/es dying as they dropped their lambs.
Fattening sheep may be fed on such soils, because
the rot is a disease no way infectious, and which
does not interfere with their becoming fat. But
when from necessity we are compelled to let store
sheep run on such pastures, we must be careful
not to put them on until the middle of the day,
nor should they be sufl"ered to remain on them
long, at any one time. Of the natural grasses of
this country, the spear grass, the blue grass, and
the white clover are among the very best for
sheep. They seldom gr(>w tali or rank, aflbrd a
sweet bite, of which the sheep are very fond,
and are very nutritious ; and where good,
will carry more sheep per acre, and fatten them
faster than any other of oui' pastures. Persons^

The Shepherds^ Guide* '^'6

therefore, possessed of such lays should hesitate
long before they turn them up, because such pas-
tures will grow thicker and thicker, and will sup-
port more and more sheep, to an increase not easi-
ly credited ; whilst they are well managed under
sheep husbandry : and as we are not in the habit
of sowing the seeds of these grasses, we must
leave our pasture lands for several years before
they will regain a sward of this kind. I see a
yearly improvement of such pastures as I possess
of this kind, and I know one field which carries
easily, six sheep of the mixed Spanish breed per
acre, through the summer ; although from being
near the winter- fold, the sheep run on it when-
ever the ground is bare , through the winter and
spring.

The next rule with every good grazier, after
adapting his stock to the nature of his soil is, to
put on as many creatures as his pastures will
carry ; without on the one hand suffering the grass
to grow up in tufts, or on the other to have them
eaten so bare as to expose the roots to be burnt by
the sun. I suspect this to be a nicer and more
difficult matter to accomplish in this country than
in the moist climate of Great Britain. I have not
been able to satisfy myself on this point, and have
heard better farmers make the same confession.
Still it deserves all our attention, or our profits
will be greatly lessened. No creature w^ill eat
grass which is running to seed j and sheep are so

34f The Shepherds^ Guide*

nice in this particular, that in fields not sufficient-
ly stocked, they will be found constantly to dwell
on those bare parts, which were first eaten ; whilst
the grass is running to seed all around them. All
plants exhaust land much more whilst they are
ripening their seeds, than during all the other pe-
riods of their growth. Another evil of still
greater consequence, arising from this circum-
stance is, that weeds are thereby suifered to run
to seed and increase. There are many plants of
this description : even our greatest pest, St. John's
wort, which sheep will eat when very young, but
will not touch from the moment they begin to
form a stem. As soon , therefore, as it is discovered
by the grass and the weeds running up, and form-
ing stems lor seeds, that we have understocked
our fields, it will amply repay the expense to run
over them with a sithe, by which the present
feed will be increased, at the same time that the
St. John's wort, and other small weeds are de-
stroyed. At the same time that this is done, bur-
dock, sharp-pointed dock, bur marygold, poke
and sheep's laurel, should be destroyed. This
useful work will be attended with but little ex-
pense, and where fields are to be kept long in pas-
ture, will be amply repaid in the greater number
of sheep they will support, in the cleanness of
their wool, and the preservation of their health.
Another maxim in grazing with sheep is, that
the young should be separated from the old, the

"The Shepherds* Guide* '35

weak from the strong, wethers and rams from
the ewes and lambs ; and particularly that lambs
should be separated, to a considerable distance
from their dams, immediately after weanmg:
bui this division cannot be made, unless we have
a considerable numbtr of fields. Small inclosvires,
therefore, in proportion to the size of the dock,
(for the fields should be large enough to atlord
the sheep necessary exercise) will be. found not
only convenient, but profitable. Sheep love to
range, and let the field they are in be ever so
large, they will be continually passing over the
whole in search of the sweetest bite, by which
they soil and waste a great deal of feed. By small
enclosures, we can at all times command clean
grass, and the regular, and even feeding of
the whole will be facilitated : by which more ani-
mals will be fed on the same quantity of land, and
thrive better. But to accomplish this, the flock
should be frequently changed from one field to
another ; otherwise, whilst they are consuming the
pasture in one, another will be shooting up its
stems for seed, and the pasture will be lost. It is
likewise advantageous to enter upon the pasture
fields early, while the grass is young and sweet,
and the weeds tender ; many plants at this time
will be eaten by sheep which a very little later
will be rejected ; and this is another reason for
small enclosures, and a quick succession from one
to another. Any slight fence, provided it is close,

36 The Shepherds'' Guide.

will confine sheep, but over a stone-wall they w'lU
find a way to get, even when staked and ridered.
I have thought of laying across the wall, and
within a foot of the tpp, pieces of small timber,
the ends of which having been sawed off square,
should project about a foot on each side of the
wall ; upon these to fix small poles, or to nail to
the ends split hoops. This would be easily made,
would consume but little timber, and would effec-
tually prevent sheep getting over the wall.

All pastures should be furnished with shade
and water, and for sheep, perhaps shade is tnore
necessary than water. Great heat is found more
prejudicial to sheep than the severest cold ; and
soon after shearing is particularly injurious.
Sheep are always found lying in the shade in the
middle of a summer's day ; and so necessary is
shade thought for sheep in the middle of the day
in summer, by the best agriculturalists on the con-
tinent of Europe, that when the pastures do not
afford sufficient shade, the shepherds are directed
to take the sheep into the sheep-houses for some
hours at noon, during the continuance of hot and
sultry weather. It is too common an opinion that
sheep do not require water ; but although it is true
that when on good succulent food, and when they
are kept night and day in the fields, they can do
without water better than any other kind of stock,
yet when they can get at it, they always go regu-
larly to it once or twice a-day, and when debar-

Th e Sh eph erds* Guide » % 7

red from it, for several days together, they run
greedily to it, and drink more than is beneficial.
When, therefore, their fields do not afford what is
good and sweet, they should be driven to it once
every day, or at farthest once every other day.
Putrid stagnant water is worse than none. It is
truly poisonous to sheep, and no pains should be
spared to free their pastures of it.

Winter Management.

The length and severity of our winters cause
the great and principal expense, as it respects la-
bour, food and shelter, which attend keeping a
flock of sheep. During five months, they require
constant care in foddering and protecting them
from the severity of the season ; in attention to
their occasional complaints, and particularly in
watching and attending the ewes and their lamias
during the lambing season. In Great Britain, it
is not uncommon to leave large flocks of sheep to
shift for themselv^'s, in bleak exposed situations ;
or at least to aflbrd them no other shelter than a
hedge, or the southern side of a hill. But such
practice is condemned by their best agricuku-
ralists, who assure us that sheep will abundantly
pay for moderate shelter in the increased quantity
and improved quality of their wool ; as well as In
the preservation of their health and strength.

Lord Som.erville gives it as his opinion, that a

D

o8 The Shepherds^ Guide,

slight shelter against severe cold, and particularly
wet, is absolutely necessary to the carcase, as well
as the quantity and quality of the wool : and that
want of necessary attention in this particular, ex-
poses them to many diseases. In very severe cli-
mates, such as Denmark and Sweden, they
find it absolutely necessary to house their fine-
woolled sheep, during winter. With us, this may
not be so necessary ; unless to those that wish to
have early lambs, many of which will be lost, if
suffered to drop in severe nights, even under an
open shelter. Indeed, in all countries in which
the snow lies for any length of time, so that it be-
comes necessary for two or three months to fod-
der the sheep, a fold-yard, round a bam, with
common sheds, open to the south, divided by hur-
dles, or any moveable fences, into different yards,
for strong or weak sheep ; for the old and infirm,
and for ewes in different states ; as well as close
apartments for sick sheep ; for yeaning ewes
and very young lambs, will be found the most
convenient and best economy. My winter-fold
is of this description ; of which, as I have found it
very convenient, I have added a plan and de-
scription.

L

G-

r

i>

B

G

A

1

M

D

C

The Shepherds^ Guide* 4^

A. Barn, with cellar under it for roots.

B. Carriage-house,

C. Cider-house.

D. Buildings of which the upper story serves

for hay ; the lower story stables : sheep
houses and sheds open in front.

E. Winter folds, about 50 feet wide and 150

feet long ; with

F. Sheds to the north of the folds, open in front,

made with posts put in the ground, and
covered with straw. Each of these sheds
and folds will accommodate from 50 to 70
sheep.
H. These double lines represent small troughs
fixed to the fence, which separates the
folds from the road, for feeding the
sheep with grain, slop, roots, salt, &c.

G. A road, 12 feet wide, so that a loaded cart

can pass through it to charge the build-
ings marked D.

I. Openings, with small gates from the folds,
through which the ilock confined in either
fold may be let out and fed with grain,. &c.
^vithout being incommoded by too great a
number at one time, or mixing the flocks.

K. Openings, with smuli gates into fields adja-
cent, to let the sheep out lor exercise
when the weather ptrmits.

L. Openings from the sheep-houses.

M. Barn-yard.

* D 2

42 The Shepherdii* Guide,

Where care is taken, and lambs do not fall be-
fore April, nothing more is really necessary than
a common hovel, made by crotches set in the
gi-ound, covered with poles thatched, or buck-
wheat straw, or any other litter that will keep out
the wet. Even this, however, should be placed
within, or rather on the north side of the fold-
yard, in which the sheep are foddered ; and if this
be kept littered with straw, bottoms of corn-
stalks, or any other trash, it will not only keep the
sheep dry and comfortable when the thaws come
on in the spring, but will afford a supply of the
best manure, which will most amply repay any
trouble and expense attending it. And another
great advantage to be drawn from such fold-
vards i?, that after all the loose manure which can
be scraped from their surface is carried off, they
will afford one of the best and richest kitchen gar-
dens for roots of all kinds, cabbages, &c. that caii
possibly be made. , When it is necessary that any
sheep, such as invalids, or ewes with lambs,
should be housed during severe weather, care
should be taken that the apartments should be
airy, large in proportion to the number confined
in them, with large windows in every direction,
which should be kept open, except during stormy
days, or very severe nights ; that they are fre-
«|uently littered with fresh straw, and that they
are cleaned out whenever they become in the
least offensive. A squ'ire yard should at least be

The Shepherds'* Guide. 43

allowed for every sheep : and even where the
buildings are constructed in an unexceptionable
manner, the sheep should be driven out in clear
weather into a yard before them, and frequently
into the open fields, for the sake of air and exer-
cise. Mr. Laysterie informs us, that under such
care and attention, there are owners of flocks of
fine-woolled sheep in Saxony, who have no pas-
tures at all, but keep their sheep in houses and
yards throughout the year. Nor is this treatment
found injurious either to their health, or the fine-
ness of their wool, as long as care is taken lo sup-
ply them with proper food and water, and to keep
their houses clean and airy.

Fold-yards, as well as houses, should be fur-
nished with racks for hay, which are best made
like ladders of long chesnut or oak poles, first
bored with inch holes, at the distance of four inch-
es, and then split, so that one pole makes the top
• and bottom of the rack. The rounds are best
when made of split stuff, but may be made of com-
mon round stuff, of the size of hoop poles, and
should be about three feet, or three and a half
long. These should be placed vertically on the
ground, at the distance of about 18 inches, and
secured to stakes driven into the ground, above
and below. If placed between two folds, they
may form the division ; the sheep eating on each
side. These ladders being removed in the sum-
mer, and placed under the hovels, will be longer

44 The Shepherds' Guide,

preserved, and leave the fold more free for cultiva-
tion. The bars should be so near each other as to
prevent the sheep putting their heads into the racks
and stirring the fodder about with iheir noses, to
seek for the sweetest and most succulent food, to
the injury and loss of what remains : and being per-
pendicular, the seeds, leaves and dust of the hay,
will not fall on their necks and shoulders, which
greatly injures the wool.

Besides, the racks, troughs for meal, grain, &c.
should either be placed at the bottom of the racks,
or as I have placed mine, on the outside of my
winter- fold ; which being raised 12 or 14 inches
from the ground, prevents much waste, by the
sheep running into them, in their hurry to get at
their contents. (See plan H.) These troughs may
be made of two boards, of about 8 inches wide,
nailedtogether at an angle thus\/svhich, standing
on the ground may be supported by pieces of
board, about 14 or 16 inches long, cut so as to

receive them thus. [>/] Mr. Livingston

has furnished his folds with boxes, latticed in front
like a common coop for fowls, and furnished
within with a rack and small trough, to\yards the
back part, for his lambs. The boxes may be made
about the length of v. common board, about three
feet high and three ieet broad ; and the lattices at
such a disnmcf as to let in ih-- lambs, bat exclude
the ewes. These being always supplied with ten-

The Shepherds' Guide. 45

der hay, and the troughs occasionally with bran,
or Indian meal, the lambs within, undisturbed by
the ewes, soon learn to eat, both, by which their
growth and strength are greatly promoted.

The sheep racksshould be sufficiently long to al-
low the whole of the flock, or at least as many as
must feed at one time, sufficient room, without
crowding each other ; or at least should be so pla-
ced that one portion of the flock may be feeding at
the rack, whilst the other portion is at the troughs-

Around, or near the fold, should always be one
or two pasture fields, into which the sheep may
be permitted to go during the middle of the day
for exercise, whenever the ground is bare, or near-
ly so : and if one of these had been shut up from
the end of the summer, or had been sown early
with rye, it will be found very beneficial, especi-
ally for ewes and lambs, early in the spring ; and
,the rye will not only be very little injured by be-
ing thus pastured with sheep, but if the same
field be kept for the same purpose, and repeated-
ly sown for a succession of years with rye, and
pastured every spring, the crop of rye will be bet-
ter and better ; and the field so far enriched, that
although at first it would only produce rye, after
four or five years it will yield an excellent crop of
wheat. The only precaution necessary in thus
feeding rye, is not to let the sheep run on it du-
ring the late fall, and the early winter and spring
months j unless the ground be frozen : otherwise,

46 The Shepherds^ Guide,

Instead of biting off the leaves, they will tear up
the plants. After the ground is well settled in the
springs the sheep may again be permitted to run
on it, until the lye begins to rise for seed : under this
management, the feet and tails of the sheep do
ir ore good, than their teeth do injury. A field of
good rowen which has been shut up, and preserv-
ed trom the latter end of the preceding summer,
is more than a good substitute ; it is perhaps bet-
ter than rye for early spring feed. At the first view,
rowen has an unfavourable ?.]>pearance from the
covering of decayed autumnal grass, but when
this is removed, it presents a growth of fresh green
grass, brought up under the shelter and warmth
of the covering of old grass. The sheep eat both
togcrhtr, having as it were hay and grass in the
same bite : it agrees remarkably well with them,
and is less apt to scour them than rye.

Good hay, with a very little corn, is quite suffi-
cient for the flock in the beginning of winter ; but
it is certainly very expensive ; so much so, that
the English give very little of either to their
sheep, hut keep them all summer on grass, and
all wmcer on green food i such as turnips, cabba-
ges, carrots or potatoes ; particularly turnips.
There is no branch of agriculture in which we
are more deficient than this, of raising green food
for our stock during winter ; which, unquestiona-
bly is much cheaper than hay and grain ; but it
must be confessed our climate, and the price of

The Shepherds' Guule. 4,7

labour, present great difficulties to this excellent
system. As far north as the state of New- York,
we cannot have fields of turnips to be fed off du-
ring winter by sheep, as is the case in England.
Whatever roots we raise, except parsnips, must
be taken up, and housed or buried, to preserve
them from severe frost : and this is with us so ex-
pensive an operation as greatly to lessen the pro-
fit of the system. Siiil, however, besides that
such food is actually better for sheep, especially
for breeding ewes ; on the score of profit it is
well worth the experiment ; and if proper care is
taken by manure and good tillage to raise the
roots of a large size, the labour of taking up and
preserving them will be so much lessened, as to
render them a much cheaper food than only hay
and grain. Carrots and potatoes are so much
more nutritious than turnips, that they pay better
for the labour of raising them. The large white
beet called mangle Wertsel, root of scarcity, is
likewise very nutritious ; and as well as carrots,
afford an abundant crop on deep and light loamy,
or sandy soils, which only are fit for them. As far
as my experience goes, the carrot is to be prefer-
red. They answer all the purposes of corn at a
much less expense : and by giving a small quanti-
ty daily to the sheep, at the commencement of
winter, they render the change from green to dry
food less sudden and less injurious ; particularly
to old and infirm sheep.

43 The Shepherds' Gizide.

When roots or cabbages are not provided for
the purpose, ewes near lambing, and such as have
early lambs, must have some moist food, or they
will probably fail as nurses ; and many lambs will
be lost. For this purpose, I have found a pint of
that better kind of bran called shorts, twice a
day to each ewe answ^er perfectly well, and occa-
sion such a jRush of milk, that whilst the lambs
were young, it became necessary to milk the ewes
occasioK^ilh , to prevent injury to the udder. Oil
cake, ground or soaked, and crushed beans, peas,
or oats, are all more nutritious than bran, and
when mixed with water, are excellent substitutes
for green fodder. In Denmark, Sweden, and
Saxony, they eke out their hay, with chopped rye,
barlev. and oat straw. These, mixed in about
the proportion of seven pounds of meal to 300
wt. of straw, is allowed to every hundred sheep
per day, and fed at three several periods. This, in
the commencement of winter, makes for store
sheep a very good substitute for hay ; as the
winter advances, more and more hay should be
allowed, giving at one period chopped straw
twice, and hay once a day ; at another, hay twice,
and chopped straw once a day ; which has the
farther advantage of compelling the shepherds or
servants to fodder the flock three or four times a
day, which is not only saving of fodder, but bene-
ficial lO the sheep. Of peas, beans and corn tops,
the sheep are fonder than of the best hay ; and

T^ie Shepherds^ Guide* 49

when well preserv-ed, they are among the very
best articles of food. Neither of these, but particu-
larly the peas or beans, should be suffered to dry
be-fore being cut: nor should the peas-haum be
threshed very clean : some green pods being left
whole, render it at once more palatable, and
more nutritious. In some parts of Prussia, a parti-
cular species of reed, which grows in ponds, i^
given to sheep : in this country, salt hay and sedge
when they can be procured, especially if cut and
xnixed with a small quantity of meal, will be found
excellent provender. On these, the wethers and
barren ewes may be kept all the winter ; and even
the ewes with lamb may be fed on them during
the early part of the season, reserving the green
food for the ewes, towards, and during the lamb-
ing season, and until they can be put on fields of
rye or rowen.

With all stock, it is allowed to be very dangerous
to pass suddenly from high feeding to that which
is scant and poor ; or from plenty of green food, to
that which is altogether dry. Hence arises a
very important maxim respecting sheep ; which is,
as soon as the pastures fail, towards the end of
autumn, to put them to turnips or cabbages, if
wc have them ; and this will perhaps be found our
best system respecting turnips : to sow a sufficient
quantity for our sheep, to be eaten after the grass
fails, and before the snow falls, so ?vS permanent-
ly to cover the groimd. If they are fed with any

E

50 The Shepherds' Guide.

regularity, hurdling them off in such portions as the
sheep will eat clean, they will go far; and the land
will be so well manured as to produce an abund-
ant crop of wheat, oats, or any other grain the
next season. When this provision has not been
made, pumpkins may probably answer our pur-
pose. I cannot speak from my own experience
on this subject. I made the experiment this
year on a small scale, with a few weakly sheep,
lately imported ; but my pastures were very good,
and they refused them : but Chancellor Livingston
informs me that he fed them to his sheep the last
fall; that he found they ate them freely, and that
they agreed perfectly well with them. Should this
be confirmed, and if what I hear is true, that we
have in New-Jersey a pumpkin that will keep, if
preserved from the frost, for more than a year ;
we have in them an excellent substitute for tur-
nips, carrots, ^cabbages, or any other green food,
with the cultivation of which we are perfectly ac-
quainted ; and which we know we can raise in any
quantity, and at much less expense than any root.
At any rate, however, care should be taken during
the period when grass is scanty, to admit the
sheep daily to the fold, and give them some hay,
if they will eat it, or a very litde corn ; that they
may be in perfect good health, when they are
first confined to the fold : for if they are pinched,
and fail in the beginning of the winter, it is diffi-
cult to get them in good heart again.

The Shepherds* Guide* 51

Mr. Lavsterie informs us, that in the north of
Europe, about three pounds of dry food is allowed
to a moderate sized sheep per day ; but that this
seldom consists altogether of hay : one or two
meals a day consist of chopped oat, barley, or
rve straw, with a small mixture of meal, or a little
corn ; that when roots make one third of their food,
about 3| lbs. or 4 lbs. in the whole is though*
sufficient. The cut straw is rendered more palata-
ble and nutritious, by scalding it with boiling
water, and this allowance of food is divided into
three or four meals a day. Of good hay, our sheep
certainly do not require so much, especially if it
be given at three or four different meals ; by which
more is saved than will pay for the additional la-
bour ; and even in this way it should always be
assisted by roots, or a very little grain. The best
way, however, is not to limit the quantity necessary
to keep a fiock constantly in good thriving order,
except in so faras to avoid waste. No animal pays
better for his food than the sheep ; the quantity of
his wool alv/ays bears a proportion to his keep
and shelter ; and it is in vain to expect strong and
healthy lambs frem poor and weak ewes. As long
as they appear full, strong and lively, they have
enough ; but if they fall off in the least they re-
quire more ; and it will always be found more
difficult, and more expensive to bring them up
again, than to preserve them steadily in a good
and thriving condition.

52

The Shepherds'* Guide.

It has been already mentioned that son[\e water

should be given to sheep daily : it is even more
nectssan^ in winter, when they are on dry food,
than it is in summer : and when it is not within their
reach, they should be turned out to go to it every
day ; but where it can easily be had, a pump in the
barn-yard, or a trough to be filled from a spring,
is certainly most convenient. A little meal, mixed
with the water, makes it more nutritious ; and
where c^il cake is given, a good method is to soak
them in water, stirring them well, whenever the
water is given ; and at the last, giving the soaked
cakes that remain at the bottom of the vessel,
mixed with cut straw : so small a quantity as 7 lbs.
to a hundred sheep per day, is said to be found
ver)^ beneficial.

It is remarkable, that whilst s^lt has been con-
sidered necessary for sheep and cattle in almost
eyery part of the world, it is of late only that the
English have fallen into the practice of giving it.
In Sweden, Denmark, Saxony, France and Spain,
it is allowed to sheep, and not only considered
essential to their health, but conducive also to the
fineness of their wool. Our farmers are in the
constant habit of allowing it to their sheep, but
without any other motive than that it is thought
in general conducive to their health ; nor with any
great regularity as to the periods or the quantity
given. In most countries, it is thought peculiarly
useful in damp weather, and in Spain, for this rea-

The Shepherds^ Guide. 53

son, it is given spring and fall, to the quantity of
128 lbs. per annum to every 1000 sheep. Lord
Somerville mentions as much as a ton annually to
1000 sheep ; and recommends it, whenever sheep
are put on strong wet lands or young clover ; and
in the fall of the year, when sheep are first put on
turnips, as a preventive against the rot. By
some farmers, it is withheld from ewes within
four or five weeks of lambing, from a supposition
that it is so great a provocative as to induce them
to drink too much. In Europe, it is frequently
mixed with yarrow, and other bitter herbs, as a
stomachic ; the place of which may be supplied
with us by branches of spruce, cedar and pine, of
which sheep are very fond, and which agree per-
fectly well with them : or it may occasionally be
mixed with tar, by spreading them on a board,
which is certainly a good and healthy practice.

E2

CHAPTER III.

Blood — Wool — Carcase and age of the ram-*-^
Number of ewes — Changing the rum — Season

— Lambs Sucking- — Weaning—Castration

— Docking — Markine; Washing- — Shearing

— Sorting wool — Shearing lambs— Wool salv-
ing, &c.

Breeding'^ ^c

I

.T being agreed that the great excellence of the
Merino, the fineness of his fleece, is peculiar to
this race of sheep, and is in no degree attributable
to the influence of climate or soil ; and it being
likewise an established fact, that the ram has
much greater influence upon the progeny than the
€we ; it becomes important to choose rams pos-
sessed of such qualities as we wish to propagate.

And as the Merino has been found to trans-
mit all his excellence of fleece and carcase to his-
descendants so perfectly, that at the fourth cross,
no difference in these respects can be discovered
between the sire and his progeny ; a question has
thence arisen, how far it is prudent to breed from
a ram of the mixed breed, of equal or perhaps su-
perior excellence at a less price, tfcan from one of
the pure blood at a greater.
Dr. Parry;, who has carried the mixed breed t©

\ \

The Shepherds'* Guide. S3

a greater degree of perfection than any man in
England, isof opinion, that when a person has at-
tained to such a degree of excellence in wool
and shape, in his mixed breed of the 4th or 5th
cross, as to equal or exceed the sire, it will not
only be perfectly safe, but in the latter case, it is
best to breed from such rams : and he quotes in
support of his opinion the practice of the present
breeders of horses, who prefer the English race
horse to the best Arabian,, from which he is
descended; because they find him possessed of
more beauty, strength and agility than his ances-
tors.

But we know the influence of the dam to be
very considerable ; and in gen<:ral, it is allowed to
be such in the first cross, as to prevent the im-
provement of the wool to more than double the
value of her own ; and where this ceases, it is im-
possible to say. Dr. Parry himself, acknow-
ledges, that rams of the second and third crosses,
although their wool may be equally fine with that
of Merinos, are notto be reliedon : and if this is the
case, the same argument must surely apply to
the 4th and 5th crosses, though in a less degree.
However justifiable, therefore it may be, in breed-
ing in, and in, to make use of mixed rams of the
same grade, or of a superior grade to the ewes,
with a view to preserve the excellence already
required : yet unquestionably for the purpose of
^meliorationj and forming a flock from the com-

56 The Shepherds' Guide.

mon ewes of the country, it would be unsafe to
breed from such a ram ; lest the descendants
should follow the maternal grandsire instead of the
sire J as we see frequently happens in coloured
sheep. A black ewe and a white ram may give
a white lamb ; but this lamb, with the same ram
may as likely give a black as a white lamb. Mr.
Xaysterie is decided on this point ; and quotes in
support of his own opinion, the opinions of many
of the best agriculturalists in Europe.

Improvement in wool and carcase is every
breeder's object in selecting rams and ewes for
his flock : and with such views, size, shape and
wool, are generally attended to. There are but
few, however, who know to what minute particu-
lars, his attention should be directed, or in what
nice points a judicious selection may improve his
flock. Mr. Bakewell, of Dishley, carried this
matter so far, as to give to his animals almost any
point he chose ; to lighten the bone, to spread the
loin, to lessen the head and neck, to shorten the
horn, or to take it away ; to increase the quantity
of fat, and to place it where he pleased. We
know not as yet, to what degree of perfection, do-
mestic animals may be carried ; or that any limits
are set to variety and improvement in this way.

In making a flock, therefore, of fine-wooUed
sheep ; it is not sufficient to take care in general
that the fleece of the ram is heavy and fine : it
should be a prime object that the wool should be

The Shepherds'* Guide, S7

equally fine on the rump as on the shoulder : and
as far as possible on every other part of the bo-
dy : and the shape should likewise be attended
to. A small head, a strait back, a square loin,
a round barrel, and short legs are in general pre-
ferred J and when connected with a lively eye, and
a soft skin of a rosy hue, secieting abundance
of }'olk, are accounted sure signs of health and
vigour, with a ready disposition to fatten. Size
alone, is an object of less moment ; as it has been
unquestionably proved, that the same quantity of
pasture will produce as much, or more wool and
mutton, from small sheep (m other respects equal)
than from large.

It is hardly necessary to add, that the nearer the
ewe approaches in the quality of her wool, as
well as in her shape, to those qualities which we
seek for in the ram, the sooner we shall arrive at
the excellence we wish to acquire and propagate.
This is a point to which every breeder has it in
his power to attend ; we possess a considerable
variety of sheep, from which he may make his
selection : and the more attentive he is to it the
greater will be his profits. It is only necessary to
caution him from being tempted by the large size
and heavy fleeces of those sheep which have a
considerable mixture of English blood. If he
chooses such, he will probably be put back one
cross in his improvement. It is from among our

^

58 The Shepherds' Guide.

smaller close-wooUed sheep he should seek his
ewes.

Hitherto, whilst our stock of Merinos were
small, and the price high, our anxiety to get on,
and make a flock as fast as possible, has induced
us to purchase lambs, and to put them as such to
as many ewes as they could cover : and perhaps
from similar motives the Danes, as Mr. Laysterie
informs us, have adopted the habit of putting
shearlings of eighteen months old, or even younger,
to ewes. But even this is much earlier than is
practised in any other countr}^ of Europe ; where
in general rams are not admitted to cover, until
they are two or three years old : and in some
countries they lay them aside again at seven or
eight. There is little doubt but that it would be
best to have patience until the ram has arrived at
maturity, which the Merino does not acquire at
soonest, until he is two years and a half old. When
put earlier, his own growth may be checked, es-
pecially if put to above 20 or 30 ewes : and the
pi oprietor may be disappointed both in the num-
ber and vigour of his lambs.

But, both in this country and in England, very
old rams have been employed, and found to pro-
duce a healthy and vigorous stock.

The same observations apply to ewes. None
should be employed before they are at least eight-
e*r.n months ; perhaps better at two years and a
hftlt old. Younger ewes produce small and weak-

The Shepherds^ Guide.

m

ly lambs, and frequently make bad nurses ; yet
it is contended by some farmers, that when suf-
fered to breed early, they acquire a larger pelvis,
yean more easily, and make better nurses in fu-
ture. Supposing this reasoning to be just, which
I think very doubtful ; it is allowed, that their
lambs should be taken from them soon after they
are dropped, and reared upon a cow or a foster
mother. Suckling is more exhausting than preg-
nancy, and interferes more with the growth of a
young ewe.

We judge of the age of a sheep, as well as of all
ruminant animals by the teeth. A lamb has
eight pointed teeth, Fig. 1. About one year
old they shed the two front teeth, and obtain in
their places two broad and larger teeth. Fig. 2.
One of two years old has four broad teeth, Fig.
3. One of three years old has six. Fig. 4. Af-
ter four years, they have shed all their lamhs'
teeth, have eight broad teeth, Fig. 5, and are
said to be full mouthed. After this the teeth be-
gin to break, shorten and fall out, Fig. 6, pretty

60 The Shepherds' Guide.

much in the same succession in which they ap-
peared : and by the time they arrive at eight or
ten years of age, their teeth are generally de-
stroyed.

Again, a great difference exists as to the num-
ber of ewes to which a ram may be put. BuffoH
limits the number to 25 or 30. In Spain, one ram
is provided for every 25. In Denmark, they ad-
mit 40 or 50 ewes to each ram. In England,
Thomson mentions as an instance of great vigour
120 : and Dr. Parr)^ 146. In this country, some
rams have certainly covered two or three hun-
dred ; and there is no doubt but that if proper
means are employed, a ram, perhaps without inju-
ry, will go to a greater number. On the contrary,
indiscriminately to turn a ram with two or three
hundred ewes in a season will greatly exhaust
him J many of the ewes will probably prove
barren ; and of the lambs, many will be small and
feeble.

When it is wished that a ram should cover a
great number of ewes, he should previously be
put into high health, and kept up during the sea-
son with the best of pasture, and plenty of grain.
And instead of being turned into the flodk, the
ewes, which are in heat should be regularly
brought to him. To discern such ewes, let a vi-
gorous common ram be put into the flock, previ-
ously secured by an apron under his belly ; which
being coloured with lamp-black or Spanish brown

The Shepherm^ Guide* 61

mixed with train-oil, or kitchen grease^ which
will not dry ; he will mark every ewe which
comes in heat. These being taken to the ram,
and again taken away as soon as covered, he will
not exhaust himself by needless repetition.

This is unquestionably the best mode, but it is
likewise the most troublesome. My method has
been, to keep up my ram with a few full-blood
ewes during the day, upon a small, but very good
pasture, that he may feed without disturbance ;
and to put the flock of ewes to him every night, in.
a confined fold, his belly having been previously
coloured, and every morning to separate and put
into a pasture by themselves the ewes which have
been marked.

By all these attentions, selecting the best rams
and ewes, such as are in the vigour of their age,
and never suffering the rams to be weakened and
exhausted by numbers, we shall arrive at our ob-
ject, to acquire a numerous flock of the most
perfect sheep, with sufficient rapidity ; whilst at
the same time, we shall preserve the vigour of
both ewes and rams to the latest period of their
lives. We have known in this country rams to
be successfully employed after eight and ten
years of age: and Mr. Laysterie mentions one
at Rambouillet, which, at the age of eighteen, pro-
duced good lambs.

It is an old opinion, that by frequently chang-
ing the ram, and by procuring another of the

F

62 The Shepherds'* Guide,

same breed from a distant flock, we shall improve
our. own. But this opinion has been so fully ex-
ploded by Mr. Bakewell in England, and all
who have followed his example, that I should not
have thought it worth mentioning, but to remove
a prejudice, which, perhaps, some may still enter-
tain. The better rule now is, to breed from the
most perfect animals, although they should be de-
scended from the same family, to the tenth gene-
ration. If I was to hazard a theoretical opinion
on this subject, I would say, that beauty of form,
and other corporeal qualities are preserved by
breeding in and in ; that vigour of intellect in man,
courage and spirit in other animals are improved
by crossing.

A ewe goes five months : the seasort of putting
her to the ram, therefore, must be so calculated,
as to have the lambs fall early or late, according
to the wishes of the owner, and the provision he
has made for their support. Early lambs are to
be preferred on many accounts ; they are strong-
er, and more able to bear the rigours of the suc-
ceeding winter; they are sooner fit for market ;
and hence, whether for store sheep or for the
butcher, are most profitable. It is likewise ob-
served, that when the first heat of the ewe is suf-
fered to go by, the second or third return of im-
pulse is by no means so sure ; that such ewes are
apt to prove barren, and perhaps, from the same
cause, the lambs are less vigorous.

On the other hand, early Iambs require great

The Shepherds'' Guides 63

care and attention ; and unless comfortable shelter
is provided for them, and an ample supply of
roots, bran, oil cake, &c. is laid up for the ewes,
only loss and mortification will be the conse-
quence.

Even where lambs are meant to fall in April,
v/hich is quite as late as in our climate it ought
to be ; it will be found necessary to provide a
field of early sown rye, or of good rowen, for the
support of such ewes as yean in the beginning of
the month. Wiih some of the best English
farmers, care is taken that the lambs fall so early
as Christmas ; and the reason given for it is, that
at this season they abound in turnips, cabbages,
carrots, &c. for the support of the ewes : that
long before the winter is out, such lambs eat
hay, bran, &c. as well as the ewes : that when
intended for the butcher, they come very early to
market, and command a much better price ; and
that when kept as store sheep, they yield a very to-
lerable fleece, which in fine-wooUed sheep, secures
a considerable profit on the first year. To ap-
ply the same arguments ^o us, the lambs should
fall in November. It may be worth the attempt
which Chancellor Livingston has been making
for a year or two past, by suffering his rams to
run continually with the ewes. He will give us
the result of his experiments, but it must take
several years before the season, as it regards the
flock in general, can be thus completely changed.

64 The Shepherds^ Guide.

Lambs which fall in the winter, or very early ia
the spring, require so niuch care and attention^
that it will be found much the most safe and con-
venient not to have too many fall together : this
will be the case when the ram goes continually
with the ewes : but when it is intended that the
lambs should not fall before April, it is most con-
venient that the ewes should yean much about the
same time. With this intention, the ewes, from
the time of weaning the lambs should be particu-
larly well kept ', and about a week before putting
the ram to them, should have a little oats or corn
given to them daily. At Rambouillet, oats are
recommended for rams during the whole season.
They are supposed in a particular degree to impart
vigour, and to have a great effect on the lambs ;
which, in size, constitution and wool, are suppos-
ed to bear a resemblance to the ram or ewe in
proportion to the superiority of vigour possessed
by either. In proof of the truth of this opinion, a
well fed flock is always found to produce more
twins than one that is scantily fed ; and twins are
also most common at the commencement of the
lambing season ; being the produce of the male
before his vigour is impaired. A strong argu-
ment for providing a full supply of rams.

Breeding ewes, likewise, should be particularly
M-ell fed with succulent nutritious food a few
weeks before lambing : in consequence, the lambs
will be far stronger, and the ewes will have a
greater abundance of milk for their support.

The Shepherds' Guide, 65

All that has been said on the subject of shelter,
as it respects older sheep, applies more forcibly
to lambs ; especially when they are allowed to fall
early, and in particular to those of the Merino
breed ; which in general are so thinly clad, that
they are very apt to suffer from cold. It is neces-
sary, therefore, in cold weather, to shut up during
the night such ewes as are very forward, that
they may be sure to drop their lambs under com-
fortable shelter : because, during the first night,
before they have been cleaned by the mother, and
become dry, the lamb is most apt to perish from
frost. Nor should the lambs be exposed at all to
severe cold and w^ct, until they have acquired
strength to endure, and a warm coat to protect
them against it. It frequently happens, especially
with Merinos, that the ewes make bad nurses,
both from want of milk, and from neglect of
their lambs ; this is another reason for their being
confined : and if, for a few days, the ewe is shut up
alone with her lamb in a close pen, and there
held three or four times a day, that the lamb may
suck, she will grow fond of it : and if, at the same
time she is fed with green food, or shorts and
water, her milk will increase. When a ewe has
very little milk, or absolutely none, as sometimes
happens ; or in case of the death of a ewe, a new
milch cow, or a foster mother, are our only re-
sources : and for breeders of valuable sheep it Is
but common prudence to be provided for such an

66 The Shepherds^ Guide,

occasion. A cow can generally be procured,
and very fine lambs may be raised in that way :
but it is the least convenient, as the lamb when
young must be held to the teat ; and even when
sufficiently grown to suck, it must be attended
while it sucks, lest the cow should kick and in-
jure it. For these reasons a sucking bottle, pre-
pared with a pipe, and a proper air vent, or what
is still better, a foster mother is to be preferred :
and when a ewe can be procured she may easily
be made to take and become fond of the lamb, by
covering the lamb for a few days with the skin of
her own lamb : or by rubbing the lamb of the
foster mother with asafcetida ; and when she has
become accustomed to the odour, to rub the foster
lamb in the same manner, and then change them.
When it is wished to give the lamb two mothers,
as is said to be the practice in Spain, and by
which very fine lambs may be raised, either of
these methods may be pursued. I have already
mentioned Chancellor Livingston's boxes, by
means of which lambs may be early taught to eat
boiled oats, roots, cabbages or tender hay, which
brings them forward very fast. It is of very
great consequence to feed sheep well during their
infancy, if we wish to fortify their constitutions
against the diseases to which they are most ex-
posed. From the want of abundance of food in
the earlier stages of life, sheep are often feeble^
and degenerate in some of their best qualities •;

The Shepherds' Guide. d!r

to this end, oil cake dissolved in water, or meal
mixed with water, makes a very nutritious drink ;
which should be given to them as soon as they
can be taught to take it.

Mr. Laysterie mentions the practice of a Mr.
Fink, a Prussian agriculturalist, who allows his
ewes to be with their lambs only three times a
day ; asserting that the lambs fatigue themselves
by running about, and incessantly attempting to
suck : and likewise that they refuse all herbage
much longer whilst they are kept constantly with
the ewes, than when in his way they are admitted
to them only at intervals. Whilst separate, they
are more quiet ; learn to eat grass sooner, thrive
better, and are more easily and sooner weaned.
When this method is pursued, an old ewe or two,
or a weak ram or a wether should be kept with the
lambs to guide and govern them. I cannot say
I have actual experience of this practice, but our
mode of fatting calves certainly recommends it.

Merino lambs, particularly those of the Infan-
tado and Paular flocks, are frequently produced
with a coarse hairy covering, and sometimes
with their ears and legs, and large spots on differ-
ent parts of their bodies, of a brown tawny colour.
But no alarm need be entertained on this subject,
such hair and spots will be succeeded within six
months by wool of a beautiful white, and of the
finest quality.

In Denmark, they wean their lambs at three

6« The Shepherds^ Guide.

months old. In Piedmont, some are said to we^n
so early as 40 days : on the contrarj^, at Rambouil-
let, they let them suck five or six months. But
very large lambs injure and weaken the ewes,
and it is frequently seen that such lambs thrive
faster after they have been weaned than before ;
whilst the growth of such as are weaned so ear-
ly as, or earlier than three months, v/ill be there-
bv checked and impeded. We, therefore, prefer
the fourth, or at latest the fifth month. Such
lambs as have been accustomed to feed, may be
weaned the earlier ; and by so doing, the ewe has
more time to recover her strength and flesh be-
fore she goes again to ram. Whilst by the negli-
gent practice of letting the lambs run with the
ewes until they wean themselves, both the ewes
and the lambs are injured. The lambs, by too
long sucking, weary and exhaust the ewes ; and
the ewes continually drive the lambs from the
tenderest and sweetest pasture.

Weaning should be gradual, lest the udder of
the ewe should be injured, and lest the lamb
should be hurt by too sudden a change of diet.
This is easily eifeeted,by admitting the lamb to the
ewe but once a day, for a very few days; and after
they are five, or at most six months old, the ram
lambs should be separated from the ewe lambs,
lest the rams become enervated by endeavouring
to serve the ewes ; and lest some of the most for-
ward ewes should be impregnated.

The Shepherds' Guide* 69

Castration should be performed when the lamb
IS about fourteen days old. When done much
earlier, while the lamb is very weak and feeble, a
due degree of inflammation may not follow. When
it is put off, as is generally done in this country
until the lamb is six weeks or two months old, it
frequently runs too high; and from either cause,
mortification and death may ensue. Two modes
of performing it are common : one by making
a longitudinal slit in the scrotum, drawing the
testicle out, and scraping away the cord ; the
other, by cutting a small piece from the bottom of
the scrotum, forcing the testicle through, and
pulling it steadily until the cord gives way. The
last is the best mode ; and both will be rendered
safest, and will be performed with less pain to the
animal, by employing a keen instrument ; with
which too, the cord should be cut across in the
first mode of performing the operation. The
danger from haemorrhage, which is the reason
given for scraping the cord, is by no means such
in a young lamb as to justify the more cruel mode
of scraping. It is of more consequence to take
the opportunity of mild weather. In a very cold
or a very hot season, many lambs may be lost.
When, therefore, it is necessary to perform it in
the winter, the opportunity of a thaw should be
embraced, and the lamb should be kept for some
days in a comfortable sheep house. When in
summer, the same, or some other shelter from the

70 The Shepherds* Guide*

heat of the sun should be afforded ; and at all
times he should be kept as quiet as possible for a
day or two.

All persons who are careful in raising a fine
breed of sheep dock the tails, and many shorten
the horns. Both operations rid the animal of a
useless appendage, and are easily performed :
that of the horns by a fine saw, when the lamb is
about one year old : the tail may be cut off about
two or three inches from the root, as soon as the
lamb has recovered from castration. Some of
the Merino sheep, especially of the hornless
breed, have long crooked hoofs, which, unless
sawed off once or twice a year, become extreme-
ly troublesome and inconvenient to the animal.
I think I have found some injury to follow saw-
ing them too short.

Every person desirous to make a flock of Me-
l-inos, by crossing the common sheep of the coun-
try with Merino rams, should be particularly
careful to mark his lambs soon after they drop : at
least, so soon as that the dam cannot be mistaken :
that in future crosses no error may happen from
ignorance of the grade of his ewes ; and that in
selling, no deception may be practised on the pur-
chaser. On this subject, Mr. Laysterie has giv-
en so perspicuous and easy a system, that I be-
lieve I cannot do better than to copy it, (as I have
done many other useful hints and observations)
from his book. It a flock of pure Merino sheep.

The Shepherds^ Guide. 71

and another of the mixed breed be kept upon the
same farm, it will be necessary, for the purpose of
avoiding mistakes, to give all the individuals of
the pure flock a permanent mark, by which they
may be easily distinguished from the mixed
breed : and to this end it may be best to adopt
the Spanish method ; that is, to apply a small
heated iron to the face, leaving the impression of
a letter or a number, which, being indelible, is the
best mark of proprietorship. Of the mixed flock,
every individual should be ear-marked, and two
Roman figures, I and V will suflice for a series
of numbers more than sufficient. The number
I will designate the animal, as far as four inclu-
sive ; by making the proper number of slits on
either ear. To make five, a portion of the ear is cut
out, of the shape of V. The numbers immediately
following are slit on either side the mark V ; VI
six, VII seven, IV eight, IIV nine. To mark
ten, he begins with one slit on the other ear ; and
by combining these, we may go on to any number
which may be required, according to the views of
the proprietor ; keeping an exact register of
the mark and purpose for which it has been
adopted.

72

The Shepherds Guide*

■x>

Washing and shearing. The Spaniards scour
the wool of the Merino after it is shorn : and Dr.
Parry objects to washing the wool in the common
way, on the sheep's back, both as dangerous to
the animal, and in reality of little use to Merino
wool \ the greasy yolk of which can be discharg-
ed, but in a very partial degree, by washing in cold
water ; and the manufacturer will have nearly as
much trouble in scouring the fleeces afterwards^
as if it had not been done.

It must be confessed there is some risk in this
practice of washing wool in the common way on
the sheep's back ; and when immediately after

The Shepherds* Guide. 73

shearing, the sheep have been exposed to severe
cold ; especially if accompanied by rain. Great
numbers have been lost in this, and all cold coun-
tries : but these losses may probably be attribut-
ed, with good reason, as much to the depriving
the animal under such circumstances of his warm
clothing, as to the washing. As, therefore, we
are likew^ise informed that the v/ool-buyers object
to the wool being shorn unwashed, stating ihat
they can form no just estimate of the real weight,
unless the general custom of the country is observ-
ed : and as washing the wool in warm water,
when performed by unskilful hands is frequently
found to felt the wool into rolls, and injure its
sale : and as it is not easy to turn the w^hole body
of farmers from their usual practice, it may be
best, at least for the present, to direct how it may
be well done, and with the least risk, than to for-
bid the practice altogether.

Our mode is to wash the sheep in a running
stream, sufficiently deep for a man to go with the
sheep into the water up to his waist ; to plunge the
sheep repeatedly into the stream, and then to rub
the v/ool well in the water ; and finally, to press
out the water, beginning at the head, and pro-
ceeding to the extremities. From the middle of
May to the middle of June is the season ; and
we are careful to seize the opportunity of mild
and clear weather. After washing, and belbre
shearing, the sheep should be kept two or three

G

74 The Shepherds^ Guide.

days in a clean pasture, that the wool may become
dry, and that the yolk may in some measure rise
again, which renders the wool more soft and
supple. In Sweden, some Merino breeders place
the animal on his back, with his head up, in a large
tub, wash him well with warm water, with a mix-
ture of a small quantity of stale urine or soap-
leys, and finally cleanse him in pure water. This
appears to be an excellent practice ; is particular-
ly recommended by Mr. Bakewell, and is said to
render Spanish wool seven per cent, cleaner than
by washing it in cold water ; with much less risk
of being felted than when so washed, after being
shorn.

In order to render Merino wool fit for the
manufacturer, much more care and skill are ne-
cessary, and several processes are recommended
for that purpose. But, as many of these are intri-
cate, and some of them dangerous in the hands of
unskilful persons, it is safest to leave them to the
manufacturers ; contenting ourselves with cleans-
ing the wool, so far only as will fit it for the mar-
ket.

Shearing, This is a business which our far-
mers are too apt to hurry and slight. They seem
more anxious to finish the work in a short time,
than to do it well. But, besides, that close and even
shearing adds to the weight of the present fleece^
it is certain that the fleece of the next year will
be the better and the weightier for it. Merino

The Shepherds^ Guide* 77

fully kept asunder, lest the mixture of the
coarser, should injure the sale of the finer wool.

This is likewise the proper time for selecting
the ewes, and marking such as from age, or other
defects should be drawn and sold off or fatted,
from such as should be reserved for breeding.
And a careful breeder will go farihwSV^nd take the
opportunity for becoming more intimately ac-
quainted with the properties of the indiytduals of
his flock ; so that in future, he may, by judicious
combination improve his flock, and obtain ani-
mals more perfect and more profitable.

Immediately after shearing it is not only neces-
sary to protect sheep from cold and wet, by ex-
posure to which great numbers have been lost ; but
if the weather proves hot and dry, the sheep should
be put into pastures, in which they can have abim-
dance of shade : and when this cannot be had, they
should for a ihort time, during the middle of the
day, have the shelter of a barn or sheep house.

Shearing Lambs. Some difference of opinion
exists as to the propriety and advantages of this
practice. Mr. Laysterie informs us that at Ram-
bouillet, lambs shorn at six months, and again
when they became two-toothed sheep, yielded
less wool, and of an inferior quality than when
the fleece was suffered to remain. On the con-
trary, Mr. Ivard's experiments give a small ad-
vantage to the shearing of lambs j and Mr. Hunt
assures us, thatearly lambs may be shorn to advan-

G2

rs The Shepherds' Gnic/e,

tage about the end of July : that they improve
much, soon after shearing ; are more cool and
more comfortable ; get rid of ticks ; rest and feed
with less disturbance : that by winter, they ac-
quire a sufficient fleece for their defence, and at
the following shearing yield a fleece nearly as
heavy, more regular, and of a better quality. And
Mr. Pictet, in a letter to Lord Somerville informs
him, that some good husbandmen clip from the
surface of their lambs' fleeces, about one or two
lines in length, so as to procure about half a
pound of wool from each ; that the growth of the
remainder is accelerated thereby, so as to give
a heavier fleece the next spring, upon the same
principle that hair grov/s more vigorously after
occasional cutting.

One of my neighbours has been in the practice
of shearing his Merino lambs for two years past ;
and from his own experience confirms the above
observations. I sheared near one hundred lambs
at the last shearing, and they certainly look as
well this spring as those which were left unshorn.
If, therefore, this practice shall be found no ways
detrimental to the sheep, the profit recommends
it ; as this wool sells readily to hatters, at a good
price.

Wool. Fine and soft wool, of a regular and
even fineness of pile, and of equal strength the
whole length of the staple, exceeds in value such
as is coarse, hard and unequal, or as it is called

The Shepherds' Guide, 79

jointed in the pile, to so great a degree, that
Mr. Robert Bakewell, a gentleman, who from
early life has been engaged in the wool business,
and is consequently well acquainted with the sub-
ject, has thought it of sufficient importance to
make it the subject of a very ingenious essay, ad-
dressed to Lord Somerville, so lately as the year
1810. He asserts, that taking two packs of wool,
of the same apparent fineness, one possessing in
an eminent degree the soft quality, the other of
the hard kind, the farmer will from the first, with
the same expense to the manufacturer, make a
cloth, the value of which shall exceed the latter full
twenty- five per cent. Eveiy means, therefore,
which can contribute to give to our wool these
estimable qualities should be known and pursued.
The first and most important of these no doubt is,
the introduction of the Merino, the best and most
valuable breed of fine-woolled sheep known j and
the improvement of his fleece, as well as that of
his descendants, by judicious breeding and selec-
tion. But besides these, some other circumstances
and attentions in the management of sheep are
said to contribute so greatly to this end, that they
deserve to be particularly considered.

Mr. Bakewell,justmentioned, strongly recom-
mends the practice of greasing and salving sheep,
as is done in Scotland, Northumberland, York-
shire, and some other northern counties of Eng-
land j as giving to wool that soft and silky feel, so

$0 ^he Shepherds' Guide.

highly vaUied ; and which of late, since it has been
better understood, and more justly appreciated
than formerly, has given a decided preference in
the market to some native English v/ools which
possess it ; and to cloths manufactured from
them, over wools of superior fineness which do not#
This superior degree of softness in some kinds of
English wool, he attributes to the practice of
salving and greasing ; and assures us, that from
this circumstance, some of the fine wools of
Northumberland and Yorkshire have acquired it,
in a superior degree to any ungreased wools in
England : so that cloths made from gi'eased
Northumberland wool had been sold as cloths
made from good Spanish wool. That they equal-
led them in texture and softness, and surpass-
ed cloths made of ungreased wool, equally fine,
by at least thirty per cent. He adds, that this
practice not only renders v/ool softer, but actually
finer ; observing that the line of distinction made
by the stain of the ointment, (in which tar is
generally an ingredient) being very perceptible,
affords an opportunity to compare the bottom, to
which the ointment had been applied, with the
top, which had grown before its application, and
that the bottom is found to be not only softer^
but actually finer.

Other good effects of this practice are, that it
preserves the wool, as well as the sheep, from the
injurious eflfects of heat, and cold and wet j that

The Shepherds' Guide* 8 i

it prevents the scab, and destroys ticks and
other vermin to which sheep are subject. Shorn
wool, kept long, in a very warm and dry tempera-
ture becomes indurated and elastic, and acquires
the properties of hard wool : the greater the degree
of warmth the more speedily w^ill this effect be pro-
duced. But even in a moderate temperature,
wool w^hich has been shorn for three or four
years will neither spin nor felt so well as that
which has not been kept above one year. Even a
very hot and dry season is found to impede the
manufacturer, and to lessen the value of cloths
made during its continuance.

Lord Somerville agrees with Mr. Bakewell, in
attributing similar effects to heat, upon the grow-
ing fleece, particularly soon after shearing. Cold
and heavy rain, by checking the natural secre-
tions, and washing off the yolk to a certain degree
produce the same effect : and for these reasons the
Swedes and Saxons clothe and house their sheep
in winter, and drive them into the shade of trees,
or of their sheep houses, for some hours in the
middle of the day, during their short and ardent
summers. Nor is it improbable, that to the equal
temperature which is thereby obtained, any good
effect which may result from the Spanish practice
of driving their sheep in spring to the northern
mountains, and in iVil to the southern plains
may be justly attributed. It is partly to remedy
the ill effects of heat, cold and wet, that the far-

as Trie Shepherds' Guide.

mers of Scotland, and the northern counties of
England, have from time immemorial been in
the practice of greasing and salving their sheep.
But they have done this, rather with a view to the
preservation of the health of the animals, and to
free them from the troublesome vermin with
which they are infested : and until lately, the ef-
fects on the wool have been overlooked. From
V which circumstance, the ointment has been so un-
skillully composed by an undue mixture of tar,
as to injure the colour of the wool, and render it
very difficult to clean ; so as to render it unfit for
the brighter dyes, or for cloths intended to be
finished white. But of late, the matter is better
understood ; and the most intelligent farmers are
convinced that it adds to the quantity of the wool,
and renders it softer and finer, at the same time
that the health of the sheep is preserved.

Of the superior warmth which the sheep enjoy
from this practice, a proof, it is said, may be seen
on a winter day, when the fleeces of the un-
greased sheep will frequently be found whitened
over with snow, or hoar frost, whilst those of such
as have been greased, remain free and uncover-
ed. To these facts and opinions Lord Somer-
ville gives his assent, and recommends the prac-
tice, provided a substitute can be found for the
tar, which stains the wool so as to limit its use to
coloured cloths.

The ointment used in Northumberland is pre-

The Sfiepherds* Guide, S3

pared by putting 20 pounds of butter over the
fire, and when melted, to add one gallon of tar,
stirring the mixture until the two substances are
well incorporated into a soft tenacious ointment.
But so great a quantity of tar is found to stain the
wool. Mr. Bake well, therefore, proposes to add a
proportion of bees-wax instead of it. The ex-
pense of this may be lessened, by the addition of
some tallow ; which, with a small quantity of wax,
will give to the ointment all the tenacity required.
And all the salutary effects of the tar, as a remedy
for the scab, and a poison to the tick and other
insects, may be procured by the addition of one
eighth of the whole of spirits of turpentine.

These changes are particularly necessary when
the ointment is applied to Spanish sheep ; which,
although they abound in a natural yolk, which
renders it less necessary, still receive so much be-
nefit from it, that both Lord Somerville and Mr.
Bakewell recommend it, particularly to be ap-
plied immediately after shearing, as a defence
at this season of nakedness against the ill effects
of heat, cold, or wet, as well as a remedy against
the tick. At this time, the ointment being rather
thin, may be well rubbed all over, and into the
fleece : but in the fall, when the wool is longer,
more pains are necessary.

At this latter season, if the ointment is merely
rubbed on the wool, it collects on the top of the
staple, attracts and mixes with the soil, and par-

34 The Shepherds' Guide*

ticularly if there is any tar in the composition, in-
jures the wool, by rendering it very difficult to
cleanse. The proper method then, is to divide the
wool with one hand, and to apply the ointment t©
the skin with the finger of the other ; by which
means it is kept constantly soft by the warmth of
the skin, and equally diffused through the fleece.
Besides the fineness of the pile, and softness to
the feel, wool,, to be truly good, must be composed
of fibres of equal strength and thickness through-
out their whole length. Such wools as are de-
fective in this property are termed unsound, and
are found to be really thinner, as if jointed in
some part of the fibre : which circumstance great-
ly lessens the value to the manufacturer. This
fault is attributed to occasional ill health in the
sheep ; to exposure to heat, wet and cold, and to
irregularity in feeding : being suddenly trans-
fenced from very poor, to very rich pasture :
from starving, to abundance of food ; and vice
versa, the remedy is to keep the sheep con-
stantly in good store order : their fleeces should
be covered with the natural yolk, and when that
is deficient, it should be supplied by art. The
sheep should be kc^pt dry, and protected after
shearing from the ill eff'ccts of extreme heat, by
the application of a soft unguent.

Wool is likewise much injured by the capsules
of the seeds of certain plants ; such as burdock,
marsh marygold, &c. which are furnished with

The Shepherds' Guide, 85

small hooks, by which they lay hold of, and entan-
gle themselves in the wool, so as not to be remov-
ed without much pains and some loss. The best
remedy against this evil is clean pastures ; and
any person who keeps a flock of fine-woolled
sheep, will find he will be well paid in the clean-
ness of his wool, for the expense of weeding all
such plants out of his pastures.

H

34 The Shepherds* Guide*

ticularly if there is any tar in the composition, in-
jures the wool, by rendering it very difficult to
cleanse. The proper method then, is to divide the
wool with one hand, and to apply the ointment tQ
the skin with the finger of the other ; by which
means it is kept constantly soft by the warmth of
the skin, and equally diffused through the fleece.
Besides the fineness of the pile, and softness to
the feel, wool, to be truly good, must be composed
of fibres of equal strength and thickness through-
cut their whole length. Such wools as are de-
fective in this property are termed unsound, and
are found to be really thinner, as if jointed in
some part of the fibre : which circumstance great-
ly lessens the value to the manufacturer. This
fault is attributed to occasional ill health in the
sheep ; to exposure to heat, wet and cold, and to
irregularity in feeding : being suddenly trans-
fenced from very poor, to very rich pasture :
from starving, to abundance of food ; and vice
versa, the remedy is to keep the sheep con-
stantly in good store order : their fleeces should
be covered with the natural yolk, and when that
is deficient, it should be supplied by art. The
sheep should be k-pt dry, and protected after
shearing from the ill effects of extreme heat, by
the application of a soft unguent.

Wool is likewise much injured by the capsules
of the seeds of certain plants ; such as burdock,
marsh marygold, &c. which are furnished with

The Shepherds' Guide, 85

small hooks, by which they lay hold of, and entan-
gle themselves in the wool, so as not to be remov-
ed without much pains and some loss. The best
remedy against this evil is clean pastures ; and
any person who keeps a flock of fine-woolled
sheep, will find he will be well paid in the clean-
ness of his wool, for the expense of weeding all
such plants out of his pastures.

H

CHAPTER IV.

Wounds— Imposthumations-Ulcers and fractures
— Hunger — ^Lax — Finding in lambs — Diar-
rhoea— Dysenter}^ — Braxy — Rot — Scab — Ery-
sipelas— Vermin — Hove — Foot rot — Sturdy
— Staggers — Claveau or sheep pox.

Diseases of Sheep,

\J F the most simple complaints, such as wounds,
bruises, and fractures, a healthy sheep so soon
recovers, that farmers are too apt to neglect them
altogether : but by so doing, a simple wound may
degenerate into an ulcer, a bruise may imposthu-
mate ; and although a broken bone will knit, the
animal suffers great pain, and will probably have
a crooked limb ever after.

With regard to fresh wounds, so much care on-
Iv is necessary after cutting the wool from the
edges, as to clear them from dirt, and any other
foreign substance ; to bring the edges together
and keep them so by a bandage where that can
be applied, or by a strong sticking plaster, which
may be made of shoemaker's wax ; or when the
wound is very large, by a stitch or two taken deep
into the flesh, which can be made only with a sur-
geon's crooked needle. It should then be covered
by a plaster made of equal parts ot black pitch and

The Shepherds' Guide. 87

bees-wax, with double the quantity of mutton
suet, merely to defend it from injury j and in the
summer season, from the access of flies.

A bruise should be washed with hot vinegar,
with the addition of a little spirit of turpentine ;
which should be repeated two or three times a
day, until the swelling and pain subside,

A fracture should be bound up neatly, with one
or two splints, covered with tow ; in such a manner
as to fill up the hollows of the limb, and to pre-
vent the hard wood pressing on the tender part.
In doing this, no other care is necessary than to
keep the broken ends of the bone opposite to each
other, and not to apply the bandage too tight,
which it always is, if the limb swells in a conside-
rable degree.

Imposthumations should be opened, as soon as
they grow soft ; and as well as ulcers, should be
kept clean by washing with warm soap suds, and
covered with a pledget of tow, spread with an oint-
ment made of equal parts tar, mutton suet and
hog's lard ; with the addition of a little wax, in the
summer season. When the bottom of an impos-
thumation looks pale, or of an ash colour ; when
it discharges a glary matter, and particularly if
the matter is offensive, it has become in some
measure an ulcer, and should be treated as such.
After washing it with soap suds, and drying it
well, cover the bottom and edges with lint, which
has been soaked in a solution of Roman vitriol,

S8 The Shepherds^ Guide.

(blue stone) or the surface of the ulcer may be
Tubbed with the vitriol itself, and then covered
with dry lint, and a pledget of tow, spread with the
above tar ointment. This mode of dressing must
be continued daily, until the ulcer assumes a flo-
rid red colour, and discharges a white, or yellow-
ish matter, which is no longer offensive. After
which^ it is only necessary to keep it clean, and to
dress it simply with the tar ointment.

We frequently hear farmers complain of being
unlucky with their lambs : they have lost a great
number. But in this case, as in too many others,
misfortune generally originates in misconduct ;
and nine times out of ten, if a farmer does not
raise as many, or very nearly as many lambs a$
he has ewes that lamb, we may conclude his
ewes have not been well fed, or his tender lambs
have been exposed to the severities of cold and
wet^ without shelter and. without litter : although
a very tender, a lamb is really a very healthy aru-
mal, and if well fed and well sheltered, is seldom
lost.

A lamb perishing from hunger appears hollow
at the flanks ; has a weak and mourntul cry ; is apt
to follow any sheep that comes near it ; and is
either neglected by its dam, or if it attempts to
suck h(ir, she sprmgs forward and w411 not suffer
it to take the teat. As soon as these circum-
stances are discovered, the ewe and lamb should
be confined ; the teats of the ewe should be exam-

The Shepherds^ Guide, 89

ined, and if her nipples are found to be sore, they
should be anointed with a soft cerate, made by
melting a little bees-wax with twice the weight
of hog's lard, or fresh butter : or if the ewe has
little or no milk, she should be supplied with plen-
ty of nutritious and succulent food, such as roots,
wheat-bran, or shorts and water, ground oats, or
Indian meal mixed with water : and whilst by
these means we are attending to the ewe, and en-
deavouring to increase her milk, the lamb must
be supported by the milk of another ewe, or
that of a fresh cow. It is a general, and I btlieve
a well founded opinion, that the milk of a farrow
cow, or one that has calved long before, is injuri-
ous to lambs and will destroy them.

Lambs, whilst very young, are particularly ex-
posed to two complaints, a purging, which will
be relieved by a tea spoon full or two of fine chalk,
and as much gin, mixed with a little milk, given
twice a day : to which, if the disease proves ob-
stinate, add one, two, or three drops of laudanum,
according to the age of the lamb : again, when the
ewes are first put to grass, lambs are apt to be
attacked with a purging, which, however, seldom
lasts above a day or two, and then subsides ; leav-
ing them in better health than it found them. If,
however, it should continue longer, and the lamb
should appear to fail under it, it will be relieved
by the same chalk mixture.

The disease called Pind'mg- in lambs is the ef-
H 2

^0 The Shepherds^ Guide*

feet of a purging with viscid excrements, hy
,which the tail becomes so glued to the buttocks
as to prevent the escape of the excrement. It is
the fault of the shepherd if it ever amounts to a
disease, because a very little attention v^WX pre-
vent it. As soon as anv tendency to it is discover-
ed, let the parts be well cleaned, and then rubbed
with a little powdered clay cr chalk.

Scouring\ Old sheep, when first put to grass^
especially on moist pastures, which have been
flooded during the winter, are very apt to be at-
tacked with diarrhoea. The best preventive of
this complaint is to put them from dry food, upon
a piece of rowen, which has been shut up from the
first months of the preceding fall ; where they will
find a mixture of dry and new grass, which will
prevent the consequence of too sudden a change.
Wher€ this has not been provided, they should be
brought up once a- day, and given a little ha)^ or
grain. Where, notwithstanding the disease
©omes on, it is generally of little consequence ; or
when obstinate, may be relieved by the chalk
mixture, increasing the dose to a table spoon full
of chalk and of spirits, and five or six drops of
laudanum : and if this should prove ineffectual,
boil four ounces of chipped logwood, in three
pints of water, for ten or fifteen minutes, and give
the chalk mixture, each time in a gill of this de-
coction.

Sometimes we are informed that sheep are at-

The Shepherds' Guide, 91

tacked with a true Dysentery^ which is distin-
guished trom a simple lax or diarrhcea. by mu-
cous and bloody discharges, mixed wiih lumps of
hardened excrement ; by frequent urging and
straining to stool, with small evacuations ; and is
accompanied with pam, a greater degree of sick-
ness, dejection and fever, manifested by a hot
skin, ears and mouth. It occurs most frequently in
midsummer, and towards the fall of the year,
and is said to be infectious. In this case, begin
by purging the sheep with an ounce of glauber
salts, dissolved in warm water : or rather in vio-
lent cases, by bleeding (which is best performed
after shaving off the wool, in the jugular vein, as
is done in horses and neat cattle. After swelling
the vein by a bandage, open it with a common
lancet ; and after drawing a sufficient quantity of
blood, which from a full grown sheep should be
towards a pint : the blood is stopped, and the vein
secured by a pin and hair, or thread, as is done in
the larger animals) then give the salts ; and hav-
ing procured a free and open state of the bowels,
give the chalk mixture ; interposing occasionallv,
as long as the pain, fever, and bloody evacuations
continue a dose of salts, or what I have frequent-
ly found a mild and gentle evacuant for sheep,
give a large talile spoon full of molasses, mixed
with one or two of yeast or emptyings. This re-
medy is particularly adapted to dysentery^, which
is frequently a putrid disease, and may be freely

92 The Shepherds^ Guide.

used, as long as the pain, fever and bloody eva-
cuations continue ; after which, the chalk mix-
ture, and decoction of logwood and laudanum, will
do all that can be done towards a cure under si
complaint of this nature. Sheep, ill of this dis-
ease, should not be allowed to drink too freely of
very cold water ; instead of which, a pint of thin
gruel, made of bu' kwheat, oat or Indian meal,
and sweetened with molasses, given two or three
times a day, will at once supply the place of ne-
cessary drink and proper food.

Braxy, Sir George M'Kinsey, describes dy-
sentery and braxy as the same disease. But Dr.
Duncan describes another disease under the
name of braxy, which appears to be a violent
inflammation of the bowels, unaccompanied with
d3^senteric symptoms. In both, the remedies, es-
pecially in the first stage, are much the same :
bleeding, purging and a cooling diet : with this
difference ; that in the dysentery, bleeding is sel-
dom necessary moie than once in the very be-
ginning of the disease : in the inflammation of the
bowels, it is the only remedy to be depended on,
and must be repeated at short intervals, as long as
the violence of the symptoms continues.

Of the Rot we know but little. Some of the
Spanish sheep imported last fall brought it with
them ; as was proved by the fluke insect found
in and on their livers. This disease is almost cer-
tainly fatal J but it is not infectious, and as from

The Shepherds' Guide, 93

the happy effects of our climate and pastures we
have heretofore been free from it, we may hope
again to get rid of it. It is said to be brought on
by sheep feeding on cold wet soils, and particular-
ly flooded grass ; to be prevented, and now and
then cured by sound pastures, dry food, grain,
and some cordials, such as porter and milk punch.
The poke, a watery swelling under the throat, is
a symptom of the last stage of the rot, and follows
the course of that disease.

The Scab is another disease, of which, compa-
red with our present experience, we may be said
heretofore to have known but little. It is mani-
fested by the infected sheep rubbing itself against
posts and trees, and biting its skin, to allay the
itching ; the wool loosens from the infected part,
hangs out from the fleece, and the skin beneath
is found to have a red fretted appearance, is rough
and scabby. It very much resembles the itch in
the human body, is equally infectious, and is
cured by the same remedies. It is to be distin-
guished from that falling off of the fleece in large
parcels, which is frequendy seen among our poor
sheep in the spring of the year, soon after they be-
gin to get plenty of food ; as well as from another
disease which we have seen among the Spanish
sheep lately imported, with ragged fleeces, and
hides almost bare. I have seen many such, which
hxl not the scab, and which, I believe had swfftr-
ed in consequence of heat, confinement and fe-

94 The Shepherds' Gv'ide.

ver: changing the natural secretion of the skin
from a so it greasy yolk, to a dry filthy scurt, in-
juring the wool, and still further, obstructing the
perspiration until the anim.il, especially in the
winter season, becomes dangerously diseased.

It is safest, however, not to neglect either of
these cases ; and where there exists the slightest
suspicion of scab, to treat k as such, lest it
spread into the flock, to our great annoyance, and
we pay severely for a very trifling neglect. And
it fortunately happens, that the remedy recom-
mended by Mons Daubenton, for the scab,
which is composed of oil of turpentine, mixed
with four or six times its weight of train oil or
hog's lard, is healthy for the sheep, and beneficial
to the wool, as likely as any other to dissolve
the hardened yolk ; and by its kindly warmth pro-
mote a more healthy secretion from the skin.
The afl'ected part being first freed from the wool,
and scratched with the finger until the scab is re-
moved, is to be Vv^eli rubbed with this ointment.
This being repeated once or twice in the course of
a week, will always palliate the symptoms, and
may cure slighter cases of scab. But in the more
severe cases, such as v/e have lately seen, I
ki^ow, from undoubted experience, that it will not
cure the scab in the winter season. Although,
thereiore, I would always recommend it during
winter as a p:\lliative, it is not to be depended
on lor the perfect cure ; and as soon as the spring

The Shepherds' Guide. 95

advances, so as to render them safe, more effect-
ual remedies must be resorted to.

In such cases, therefore, as soon as the weather
will permit, let the wool be shorn off, and* the
whole body of the animal be thoroughly cleansed,
(especially all the parts infected) by scrubbing
with a brush and warm soap suds, in every gal-
Ion of which, about four ounces of the fresh roots
of white hellebore or sharp-pointed dock, or two
ounces of dried tobacco stalks have been previ-
ously boiled. The wool being suffered to dry,
every infected part is to be well anointed with the
following ointment.

Take corrosive sublimate, four ounces ;
hog's lard, ten pounds ;
mutton suet and
rosin, of each, one pound.

Dissolve the corrosive sublimate in strong spi-
rits, by rubbing them together in a glass mortar,
pouring off the solution, then adding more spirits,
until the whole is dissolved ; then having melted
the lard, suet, and rosin together, suffer them to
cool, until they begin to thicken at the sides of the
vessel, and add the solution of the sublimate gra-
dually to them, stirring the whole continuallv un-
til cold, so as to blend them very uniformly to-
gether. Where rosin cannot be procured, bees-
wax may supply its place ; the use of either, as
well as of the suet, is to give consistence and tena-
city to the ointment in hot weather.

96 The Shepherds* Guide.

This ointment combines all the advantages of
Sir Joseph Banks's more expensive mercurial
ointment, and is rather easier to make than that
of Sir George M'Kinsey. Either will effectual-
ly cure the scab, and seldom require to be repeat-
ed above twice or three times : once will often
answer. But the scrubbing and washing with
the soap suds, made of the decoction, of white
hellebore, dock root, or tobacco, is essential to
the success of either. Of these, the hellebore,
where it can readily be procured, is the cheapest
and most effectual j and made use of with the
following cheaper ointment, as below directed^
will commonly do all we wish.

Boil twenty pounds of the roots of white helle-
bore in half a hogshead of water, and having
shorn the sheep, wash them and scrub them with
a brush thoroughly with this decoction, whilst
they stand in a tub ; then squeeze out the wool
and turn them out. As soon as they are dry,
anoint them universally with a mixture of tar and
hog's fat, in the proportion of one gallon of tar to
20 lbs. of hog's fat. This is a most excellent
practice ; protects the sheep from cold and wet
after shearing ; contributes to the growth and the
softness of the wool, frees them from vermin, and
contributes to their general health.

During the summer season, and indeed at all
times, the flock should be occasionally examined,
and the slightest appearance of scab attended to :

The Shepherds* Guide, 97

and wherever the wool appears to loosen, let it
be taken away : let the part be washed with the
decoction of hellebore, dock root or tobacco, and
anointed with the ointment, with corrosive sub-
limate.

Red Water and Erifstpelas are eruptive and
inflammatory diseases of the skin, attended with
heat and fever. They probably are the same dis-
ease under different forms, and are cured by cool-
ing purgative medicines, such as flowers of brim-
stone, mixed with molasses, in the proportion of
two ounces of the flowers of brimstone to four large
spoons full of molasses : to which, if the disease is
violent, add half an ounce of salt-petre. This will
make eight doses, to be given in half a pint of
warm water, night and morning, so as to occa-
sion a moderate purging, and is to be occasion-
ally repeated as long as the disease continues.

Vermin. Sheep are infested with several kinds of
vermin: the common tick, maggots, &c. The lean
and young sheep are most exposed to these com-
plaints. Smearing, as recommended on the sub-
ject of wool, is the best preventive ; and washing
with decoctions of sharp-pointed dock, tobacco, or
white hellebore, (itch root) which is best done
immediately after shearing, is generally fatal to
them. Maggots are the consequence of fly-blows
upon wounds. They are avoided by dressing with
tar ointment, and removed, by washing the part
with either of the above decoctions. Indeed,

I

98 The S/i eph erds' Guide.

cleanliness and moderate attention will prevent
most of these complaints.

Hove, Sheep, as well as cows and oxen, are
apt to be hoved, as the farmers call it, upon being
put on moist succulent grass, particularly red
clover. In this complaint the new grass floats upon
the contents of the first stomach, so as absolutely
to close the upper orifice. Fermentation soon
begins, and a great quantity of air is extricated,
which being pent up, swells the animal to a great
size, particularly on the left side, just forward of,
and below the hip, where the paunch in ruminant
animals is attached to the integuments.

Several remedies are prescribed for this com-
plaint ; all of which tend eidier to absorb or give
vent to the confined air. But such only as let out
the air are to be depended on. To this end, we
are directed to drive the animal about ; to throw it
suddenly into water ; to plunge a pointed knife
into the paunch just below the hip, or to break the
cake of grass, which prevents the escape of the
L\ir, by thrusting down the throat, quite into the
stomach, a flexible rod, which may be made of a
piece of grape vine, on the end of which is a small
knob, which being covered with leather, and well
greased, may be used without any apprehension
of danger : it no sooner reaches the stomach than
the air pours out abundantly, and the animal is
entirely relieved. It is therefore to be preferred to
any other less efficacious, or niore hazardous

The Shepherds^ Guide. 99

remedv. This complainc will sometimes kill an
animal in a lew hours ; no time, therefore, should
be lost in trifling attempts ; nor should the animal
be left until perfectly relieved.

Foot Rot. This is one of the diseases of sheep,
with which, I believe, we were totally unacquaint-
ed, until it was brought to us, among the sheep
imported last fall ; but as it has since occurred in
two flocks of some of those sheep in my neigh-
bourhood, besides my own, it cannot be doubted
but that it has already, and probably will in future,
appear in many others. It is one of the most in-
fectious diseases of sheep ; and although when
early attended to, neither dangerous riot diflicult
of cure, yet when neglected in the beginning, be-
comes so in a great degree, and spreads with
great rapidity through a flock.

Its first, and most evident symptom is lameness.
Wherever therefore, there is the least reason to
suspect it, every instance of lameness, as soon as it
occurs, shoiild be carefully examined.

In the first stage, and mildest species of the dis-
ease, the animal appears no otherwise indisposed
than as it is a little lame. On examining the foot,
a slight redness appears round the hoof, at its
junction with the skin ; whence, or from the skin,
between the hoofs, a small quantity of offensive
matter oozes, and the foot itself, feels somewhat
heated j but no other symptom of fever occurs.

In the second stage or species, the disease is

1 00 The S^iepherds' Guide.

deeper seated, under and within the horn of the
hoof; the animal appears to be in more pain, the
lameness is greater, the foot is much hotter, the
animal is dull, loses its appetite, and is manifestly
feverish ; and frequently so lame as to feed on its
knees. This stage is frequently, though not always
in its commencement, accompanied by a manifest
ulceration in the division of the hoofs, or at the
junction of the horn to the leg ; and the matter dis-
charged is very offensive.

In the last stage, which is generally the conse-
quence of neglect, imposthumations are formed
within the hoof ; the bones are attacked and be-
come carious ; the discharge is abominably offen-
sive, fever, and every symptom of general dis-
ease are greatly aggravated.

Fine-woolled sheep are said to be most subject
to this complaint. It is attributed to moist pastures,
to cold dews, in the fall of the year j frequently at-
tacks sheep after long journeys, is very infectious ;
and unless great care is taken, by separating the
diseased immediately from the healthy, spreads
rapidly through a flock. As this disease is un-
doubtedly very infectious, sound animals must be
immediately taken to uninfected pastures, nor
suffered to return to the fields on which the dis-
ease has appeared, until they have been cleansed
by frequent rains ; and in winter, separate folds
must be provided for the infected and the healthy.

Cure. As soon as the disease is ascertain-

The Shepherds* Guide. 101

ed, examine carefully whether it exists within
the hoof. This is discovered by pressing the
hoof all round, below and above ; from which,
if the animal winces, and discovers pain, we may
conclude that beneath^ the foot is diseased : and
the first measure to be taken is, by carefully
paring away that part of the hoof, to afford a
discharge to the confined matter. This will be
much facilitated by dipping the foot repeatedly
into water, as hot as can be borne without scald-
ing : and from time to time, carefully paring the
hoof with a sharp knife, until it is perforated
so as to let out any matter which lies beneath.
This partial scalding contributes likewise to the
cure of the milder species of the disease, which
exists only at the edges, or between the hoofs :
and even when the inflammation has commenced
beneath, it will frequently check it, and prevent
the formation of matter.

In the next 'place, let the foot be carefully
cleansed from all offensive matter, wiped perfectly
dry, and the surface of the ulcer destroyed by
washing the part in the milder complaint with
a strong solution of sugar of lead in vinegar, or
a strong solution of white vitriol. Where the dis-
ease is more malignant, or has made greater pro-
gress, more caustic applications are necessary ;
such as the ley of wood ashes, which has been
rendered caustic by slacking in it quick lime
a strong solution of Roman vitriol, or a mixture

I 2

102 The Shepherds* tjuic/c*

of oil of vitriol, diluted with twice its weight of
water ; or what perhaps is better, with the same
quantity of sweet oil, or train oil. These should
be put on with a feather, the part covered with a
pledget spread with tar ointment, Gowlard's ce-
rate, or mercurial ointment ; the whole kept on by a
linen cloth and moderate bandage. After this, the
animal is to be kept quiet for some days, during
which the foot is to be daily dressed in the same
way, until the sore appears clean and sweet, and
then only with the ointment until it is healed : of
which we must be v.-ell assured before we turn the
sheep back again to the flock.

Sturdy, It is supposed we have this disease,
occasionally among us, though I believe it never
has been proved by actual dissection. A sheep
attacked v.'ith it ceases to improve, becomes dull,
and separates from the flock, its sight appears to
be impaired and indistinct ,* the eyes glare, the
animal sometimes becomes blind, starts at any
noise, runs furious without aim, loses the power
of standing, and is perfectly emaciated.

The cause, discovered by dissection, is found to
be a collection of water : in the milder species of
the disease, in a bladder on the top of the brain,
near the skull ; over which the skull is found to
be remarkably soft, so as to yield to the pressure
of the finger. In the more fatal species, the water
is collected in the natural cavities, or in the sub-
^tnnce of the brain itself. The only cure is to let

The Shepherds^ Guide, 103

out the water, either by puncturing the sack,
through the soft part of the skull with an awl ; by
opening the skull, as in the operationof trepanning,
and taking out the suck ; or by what is averred to
be the safest and most certain, though unquestion-
ably a very singular remedy, by passing a stiff
pointed wire up each nostril, through the base of
the skull and the whole substance of the brain, un-
til it can be felt by the finger, over the soft part, on
the top of the skull. After which, although the
sheep should lie as dead for many hours, it is
said frequently to recover. It cannot be, but that
an operation of this nature, in which the whole
substance of the brain is perforated, must fre-
quently prove fatal. But as the disease for
v/hich it is recommended is of itself necessarily
fatal, unless relieved in some such way, it is only
necessary to ascertain the disease to justify the
attempt. Where, however, the soft part of the
skull can be discovered, the operation of trepan-
ning is more safe, but requires more skill ; and
where no such part on the skull can be discover-
ed, it can be of use only by chance.

Giddiness^ Staggers, Another disease, under
these appellations, is described by many writers,
which, in its symptoms, very much resembles
sturdy, but which arises from a very diff(-nr:nt
cause, and yields to different remedies. This I
suspect to be the disease described by Professor
Daubenton, under the name of, and attributed by

t04 The Shepherds' Guide.

him and Mr. Mills to the eftects of heat ; and by
Chancellor Livingston and many others under
thai of staggers or dizziness. It is by all the wri-
ters I have seen, except Chancellor Livingston,
attributed with great probability, to plethoric ful-
ness of blood ; which, although it may occur at any
season, is most likely to produce its effects in hot
weather, and yields to bleeding, and other eva-
cuations. What induces me to suppose the disease
so accurately described by Chancellor Livingston
to be this disease, more than sturdy is, that his
cases yielded simply to patience and attention ;
which are much more likely to cure a disease
arising from plethora, and a partial determination
of blood to the head, than one which like sturdy
is proved to arise from w^ater, confined in a mem-
braneous cist : which we know from what occurs in
the human body to be a class of diseases seldom,
I believe I may say never cured, but by eva-
cuating the water and destroying the cist. If
these sentiments are just, it becomes of conse-
quence to distinguish these diseases from each
other by some decided mark. I confess I cannot
do this from experience, never having ascertained
the disease called sturdy by dissection ; although
I have in several instances met with that called
staggers ; some of which proved fatal, others
were cured, as in the case of Chancellor Livings-
ton, by lime and patience. But, arguing theoreti-
eally, Irom the nature of the causes, I should su|3-

The Shepherds* Guidt, 105

pose the staggers to attack suddenly, the sturdy
to come on more gradually : convulsions, other vi-
olent symptoms and sudden death, more frequently
to occur in staggers, than in sturdy. The only
decisive mark is the softness on the top of the
skull, which is described in sturdy, but never oc-
curs in staggers. But, as this symptom is said not
to occur in every instance of sturdy ; where it
does not, much doubt must attend our decision :
for water in the ventricles of the brain will
always be attended with more violent symptoms
and more sudden death, than where it presses on
the outward surface ; as it does in all those cases
of sturdy which are accompanied by the softness
on the skull, and in which I believe trepanning or
wiring, to be the only remedies : and as in this
case, it can be easily performed, trepanning is un-
questionably to be preferred.

Claveau^ Sheep Pox. Of this fatal disease I
have had but too much experience. It was
brought to me last fall in a small flock of twenty-
five sheep, purchased by Messrs. Murray and
Sons, from Mr. Havens ; and about the same
time was brought to my neighbour, Mr. Broom,
in a number of very sickly sheep, sent to him by
Mr. Vigars, of New-York. Of those sent to me,
three died before I received them ; and soon after
several more, before I suspected any other com-
plaint than the scab, and othv^r consequences of
confinement during their voyage from Spain. At

106 . The Shepherds' Guide.

length I discovtred a black nigged scab on the
cbctk of one ; and on examining it careiuily, I
found beneath a foul stinking ulcer, which h.id
eaten partly through the cheek, and was spread-
ing in every direction. On examining the rest of
the fiock, the same complaint, but in a less degree,
was discovered on five or six more. A corrosive
wash, composed of the vitriolic acid and water,
and another of a solution of Roman vitriol, well
rubbed into the very bottom of the ulcer, so as
completely to destroy its surface, soon sweetened
the discharge, and gave the ulcer a healthy appear-
ance : by this several were cured, but notwith-
standing ail the care I could bestow on them,
several also died. While this was doing, and
while at the same time I w^as rubbing one of the
sheep with Mr. Daubenton's remedy, {spirits of
turpentine a . d grease) to cure it of the scab, I
discovered on the back of one, several tumours,
about the size of a sixpence, from which the
wool had fallen off, and which on being pressed,
discharged from a very small opening, a whitish
matter, so thick as to retain the form of a small
worm. The same tumours were after this dis-
covered in several other sheep ; and it was these
which first excited a suspicion of the nature of
the disease. Whilst reading Laysterie's account
of the introduction of fine-woolled sheep into
Euro])c , I remarked his description of the mode
of procuring matter for inoculating for claveau ;.

The Shepherds' Gmde. 107

by pressing the tumour xvith the finger^ a7id
forcing out the matter^ in order to take it on the
point of a lancet, I now visited Mr. Broom's
flock, where I found the disease in a more recent
state ; and on comparing what I there saw with
the appearances in my own flock, and with a
most full and accurate description of the disease,
published in a treatise on cattle, by Mr. John
Mills, London, 1786 : no farther doubt remained.
We had introduced into our flocks the claveaii^
sheep poXy a disease in many respects resembling,
and equally infectious with the small pox, in the
human species. The first idea was to stop the
infection, by carefuil}' sc parating the sick from the
healthy sheep ; which we found, as I believe it al-
ways will be found, a vain attempt, as far as it re-
gards those sheep with which the infected have
run, even for a short time : but which, on the
other hand, has proved a perfect and complete
protection for such flocks as have not actually run.
together ; even where the distance dividing such
flocks was so small a space as a narrow lane of two
rods wide. I have kept ail this winter and spring a
flock of half-blood, which have hadno greater sepa-
ration than such a lane ; and whilst every sheep and
lamb in my sick flock has had the disease, not
one of either in the other has taken it ; nor has
the disease appeared in any of my neighbours'
flock, nor in those of Mr. Broom's neighbours.
The sheep pox commences by a heavy, watery,

108 The Shepherds^ Guide.

and slightly inflamed eye, some swelling of the
lips, and a discharge from the nose, very soon
succeeded by an eruption round the mouth on the
edges of the lips, and particularly at the corners
of the mouth. In some instances of the mildest
specits of the disease, these have been all the
symptoms which have appeared. The eruption
has dried into small black scabs, which have fall-
en off in tight or ten days, and left the sheep quite
We'll. In the next degree of the disease, on ex-
amining the sheep, an eruption of various size
and shape is found on the inside and naked parts
of the thighs and belly ; some of the pustules are
small and round, others broad and flat ; and some
are likewise discovered under the wool on difl^er-
ent parts of the body. These pustules grow
yellow on the tops, and discharge a small quanti-
tv of matter, which dries into a blackish scab.
Still this is to be considered as the mild and dis-
tinct species of the disease, and is attended with
no great danger. The confluent and malignant
species of the disease commences with a more
violent inflammation of the eyes, a more manifest
and considerable swelling of the lips, and a great-
er and more purulent discharge from the nose.
The eruptions on the naked parts of the body are
very numerous, broad and flat, of a reddish
brown, or purple .^olour ; and are likewise dis-
covered under th=^ wool, on every part of the
body. The animal appears very sick> dull, and

The Shepherds' Guide. 109

stupid ; and refuses food, partly from loss of ap-
petite, but more evidently from the soreness of
its mouth; on every part of which, tongue, gums,,
and on the inside of the lips, the eruption is dis-
covered. Of these malignant cases some have
died in twenty-four and thirty-six hours : others
have struggled through eight or ten days, and a
few, but very few, have recovered. Between
these grades of mild and malignant claveau, the
variety has been almost as great as the number
of animals seized. But neither in the confluent,
or mild species, was any high degree of fever
manifested by hot feet, ears, or mouth ; which,
in general, were rather below their natural de-
gree of heat J and in some of the worst cases,
were actually cold. Nor did the breathing of-
ten become quick and laborious until very near
the fatal termination of the disease.

Of the lambs, some were seized within three
days after birth, so that I believe they must have
brought the infection with them: others were
not seized until they were eight, ten, or fourteen
days old ; and I thought evidently took the dis-
ease from the older and more early infected lambs.

The little animals, in general, appeared to droop
for a day or two ; and then the first symptom, as in
the older sheep, was an inflammation of the eye-
lids and lips. This was soon followed by the
eruption, which appeared very thick and florid on
the inside of the thighs, and other naked parts,
and could be felt on every part of the body.

K

no The Shepherds*' Guide.

From day to day the number of the eruptions ap*-
peared to increase, and to collect in large clusters,
particularly about the neck, throat and jaws ; by
which, although the lambs retained an appe-
tite for the teat, they were at length prevent-
ed from sucking. In a few of the old sheep, al-
though the eruption was very numerous, the ma-
turation of the pock was perfect, and in general,
such recovered. But more frequendy it was
very imperfect in the old sheep -, and in the young
Iambs, I saw none that maturated at all, where
the eruption was general over the body ; and all
such died. But where the eruption was chiefly
confined to the mouth and pudenda, a kindly
maturation took place and they recovered. Upon
the whole, this, disease proved fatal to more than
one third, nearly half of the old sheep j and to
three fourths of the lambs which were attacked.

The relics of this disease, like those of the
small pox, are various and terrible. I have al-
ready mentioned the putrid and corroding ulcers
about the mouth. Some had imposthumations,
especially about the head, which on being open-
ed, discharged a greenish and offensive matter ;
but the eyes most frequently suffered ; the ball of
the eye itself imposthumating and bursting, and
this symptom attended and followed some of the
milder cases : in one, a fine full-blooded ram,
no other. symptom was discovered.

Treatment. It will readily be conceived that
in a disease of this nature, no more than in the

The Shepherds' Guide. Ill

small pox in the human species, nothing like cure
can be attempted with success ; if by cure is
meant to put a stop to the progress of the disease.
Like all diseases of this kind, it must, and will
run through its stages : and all that can be done
is by a well regulated diet, and by attention to
the state of the bowels, and attempting to miti-
gate any violent and untoward symptom, to con-
duct the animal safely through it. At first, as I
have said in the hope of stopping the spread of
the disease,^ every sheep that was attacked was
immediately and carefully separated from the
flock ; but soon finding this a vain attempt, it
was abandoned ; and those only which were more
seriously attacked were taken to my hospital,
that they might be more particularly attended to.
The milder cases were left in the flock to com-
mon treatment and common food ; except, that in-
stead of corn, the whole flock had bran and water
with hay. Those that were taken to the hos-
pital had chiefly roots and bran ; and those whose
mouths were so sore that they could not eat hay,
©r even roots, were supported on gruel, given
three or four times in a day by means of a bottle.
The only medicine given, was brimstone and mo-
lasses, yeast and molasses, and in some cases, a
little nitre. Sore mouths were constantly cleans-
ed with vinegar and water ; and when they began
to ulcerate, with one of the caustic solutions men-
tioned above. In a few of the worst cases, mer-

tl2 The Shepherds^ Guide*

curial ointment was rubbed freely under the axil-
lee and on the thighs. To two or three I gave cal-
omel freely, to try how far mercurials might miti-
gate the symptoms. Under such treatment, most
of the mild, and a very few of the more severe^
cases recovered : and one very malignant and
confluent case in my neighbour Mr. Broom's
flock, recovered under the free use of mercury.

Inoculation for diis disease is recommended in
many parts of Europe ', and Mr. Laysterie assures
us, with efficacy and success. As soon, therefore,
as I was assured of the disease, I made the at-
tempt ; but I cannot say with any considerable
success. In the first place, I found it difficult to
procure matter, and when 1 had succeeded so far,
I again found it very difficult to communicate the
disease with any certainty, although I performed
the operation with great care, and in every mode
I could think of: with a thread, with the scab,
and with fresh fluid matter : and where the sheep
or lamb took the disease, many diedr But I con-
fess, I was by no means certain they had not ta-
ken the disease before inoculation, in the natural
way. A very few evidently took the disease
from the inoculation, and went through it with
safety. I vaccinated seven, but I was not sure
that one took the cow-pock. Yet the analogy be-
tween the claveau in sheep, and the smallpox in
man is so great, that if the dtsease should again
appear, I would recommend, and would myself
again attempt inoculation.

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