In June the washing of the sheep should generally take place previously to the shearing. The washing may be best per formed by a stream of water; and those who are engaged in it, instead of standing in the water, in which their uncomforta ble situation leads them to hurry negli gently over the business,should,by means of a cask or tub, be freed from such un pleasant and dangerous exposure. The shearing, which speedily- follows this ope ration, should be as close as possible, and the circular is by far preferable to the lon gitudinal method with a view to this object.
Sheep that are kept in inclosures, and particularly in a woodland country, should be examined twice every day, to guard against injury to them from the fly, which, in twenty-four hours after having struck, sometimes produces incurable disease. The most efficacious treatment on this subject is, after parting the wool wherever the maggots are found, and picking them out with a knife, to scrape a small quan tity of white lead among the wool, so that it may be carried evenly down to the wound. Regular and minute inspection will prevent such a circumstance as a broken coat in any of these animals, froni a cause so dangerous and fatal, where they are neglected.
When ewes are about to lamb, their keep should be of the most nourishing kind, consisting of plenty of turnips or cabbage. Till this period they may do without them. But all cattle that have young require as good keeping as those which are fatting. The turnips or cabba ges should be drawn for them, and given them on dry ground. A standing rack of hay should be left for them on the field. which will be of great ad% antage to them.
Swine.
Tlie quick multiplication and growth of swine render them a species of stock high ly profitable, and if reared systematically, and upon a large scale, none n ill be found to answer the purpose of the farmer better. Though supposed to be filthier than any other animals, they enjoy a cle:m and comfortable place for laying down in, and their thriving a.nd feeding are at least as much improved by cleanly manage ment as those of any other stock. Their styes should therefbre be constru,cted sloping, to carry off all moisture. The different sorts of swine should be kept separate in them, and many should never he put together, and particularly if they be of different size. Too much attention
cannot easily be paid to the rearing of these animals. The large Chinese breed is generally and justly preferred. When swine are reared on a comprehensive plan, crops must be sown purposely for their support, and the dairy cannot be consider ed as that resource which it is naturally regarded in small flIrms. From October till May, potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and the Swedish turnip, which is a most use ful vegetable for this particular purpose, must be provided for the swine, and stores from October till the end of May, when they may be received into lucerne, chico ry, or clover, on which they will be main tained till the clearing of the stubble ; and thus, with the offal of the barn and the corn fields, and the plants and roots just mentioned, the whole year will be amply provided for. In summer, meal must be mixed with water for the sows as they pig, and in winter boiled roots, peas, and oats, should be given to the young ones. Dairy wash is a capital addition to this mixture. The sows should be permitted to pig but twice a year, in April and Au gust. When great with pig, they must be carefully secluded from the boars, and shut up about a fortnight beforehand in the stye ; and while pigging, it is of ex treme consequence that no one approach es them, or is even seen looking at them, as in this case they will often devour their farrow. After a week from this period, they should for a few hours in the day have the freedom of the yard, which will he a great relief from total confinement. pigs, if not kept with great atten tion, are found less profitable than others. Milk and whey may so usefully be applied to them, that perhaps no other mode of their application is equally advantageous ; and the best process for weaning them is by giving these articles to them mixed up with peas-soup, though the latter alone will answer well. When three or four months old, nothing is better for them than clover : turnips alone will not be proper, but corn should be added to them. Carrots and potatoes will keep them well till their full growth. Malt grains, if easi ly and cheaply to be procured, are high ly to be recommended.