Band 
Vol. III.
Seite
126
JPEG-Download
 

126

ON THE LIVE-STOCK

which should have lambs in spring. Ewe Iambs or hogs, anda few young and old tups. All these are sometimes allowedto pasture promiscuously, but on the farms around Cheviot*the ewes and ewe-hogs are kept separate, and on such landsas are adapted to the kind of stock under consideration, theewe-hogs are either put on rough pastures, which have beenlightly stocked in the latter end of summer, or get a few tur-nips once a-day, in addition to the remains of their summerpasture. The most effectual preventive of the desolating dis-tempers to which sheep of this age are liable, is turnips; andthough they should never taste them afterwards, a smallquantity is frequently given them during their first winter.After the tups have been separated from the ewes, they areusually indulged with the same feeding as the hogs.

6. The ewes, during winter, are seldom allowed anyother food than what their summer pasture affords, exceptthat a small part of it may sometimes be but lightly eaten,and reserved as a resource against severe storms. When theseoccur, however, as they often do in the Cheviot district,there is little dependence on any other food than hay. Whenthe snow is so deep as completely to cover the herbage,about two stones avoirdupois of hay are allowed to ascore of sheep daily, and it is laid down morning and even-ing in small parcels on any sheltered spot near the houses,or under the shelter of stells or clumps of trees, on differ-ent parts of' the farm. Very great losses have been oftensustained among the Cheviot hills in snow storms. In asingle night many sheep have been buried alive under a driftedheap of snow, several feet deep; and there have been severalinstances of the shepherds perishing in their attempt to leadthem to a place of security. The management of the sheepat such times, must be regulated by local circumstances, anda great deal depends on the skill and assiduity of the shep-herd. Every store farmer is aware of the importance ofshelter, particularly by means of plantations; but there aremany farms on the Cheviot hills, where no artificial shelter