T RAV

APPENDIX.On artiwng at thèsummer pasture, the first business of the shepherd is to allot thesheep ta their respective tracts; Sldly, ta wean•. the lambs, separating· the ewes andrams. Sometimes this is done at the shearing-houses if the lambs are forward.Salt is giveQ them in small proportions, and every third day. A reason assigned i8'that the mountain herbageis not sa nutritive or so nitrous as that of the plains.The excellence of .the flock depends upon the judicious selection of the rams; andhere the sklll ofthe head shepherd is shawn. The principal points attended ta in thechoice of the rarn:are: that he should be of a good size, of a square set shape, hischest broadand bel1y rou,nd; as without these last shapes his. breed, especially theewes, would be dwindled, and not.fit for the purposc. His head should he prominentin the upper part, and fine or fiat towards the nase. He should not be speckled: heshould be white, and no way foxy in colour, save and except behind the left shoulder,where it is not aD).is~~hat his waal should approaeh a little ta a gold colour; be~ausethe l1eart being seated neartl1ereto, it is a proof of greater warmth and vivaeity of constitution.He should have a good fieeee; thick, straight, fine, soft, delicate, and somewhatoily. Eaeh fibre of the wool should terminate in a'small head, like a. pin's. Hiswool should' he of sufficient and prop()ltionateJellgth.He should he dew.lapped. Therams are left with the ewes a .. mouth or more. ]J they appear weak, or if theweather iscold, the sl1epherds.give them toasted salt anda littleblack pepper.ln the Merina flocks the rams are loft uneut, ex:cept the bell-wethers,. on account ofthe superior quantity of their wool, their stronger constitution, and greater length oflife.Theil' age isknownby the teeth of their lowerjaw. Tliose of two years old havetwo;those ofth1'ee, four; those of four, six; those· of five, eigl1t; andafter that age theydo incr.ease *.~2~_r~~~~r._~0 dec~y either in flesh or waal; but after that, .a:nltlîe otl1e1'. Tlîeir ut{nost extent of existence is to eightyeà:rs; after which, from wànt of teeth; :t:hey are no longer able to feed, and dié.The ewes should' be full...bodied; theirheads small, ereet, and free from/wool..Those which are otherwise are bad nurses.,Raddling begins ta be exploded among the more ~nlightened' shepherds.In case of snow,. frost,rain,o,r win~s, at yèaning time, some care is necessary at the'time theewes drop :........such as warming the lambs, and putting a Httle milk in theirrnou.ths fi'om thè 'teat Ifthe ewe is tooweak, the lambis killed, and the sldn savedto be put upon anotber lamb to he reared by pel' when she gets strength, in case ofothers twinning. SO,IllCtimes it isnecessary ta fasten and ,campel the ewes to admitli< The fii'st year'ihey are named corderos; 2d, borros; 3d, alldruscos;. 4th, trasalldruscos; 5th, cor,..radas; .. ailer, revitjos.