PREFACE.
The truth of the Greek proverb, that "a great book is a great evil," is no where more apparent than in the construction of works on agricultural concerns. Those who have attended to the subject well know, that the profitable management of live-stock is by far the most difficult branch of farming, as it is here that improvement is peculiarly tardy; and from this we might infer that authors would endeavour so to arrange and simplify their treatises as to enable every one to obtain the bearings of the study at the smallest possible expense and trouble. Such, however, is not the case. Many would appear to have done their best so to dilute and mystify the little which is known about the matter, that it is nearly impossible for any one, not gifted with more than ordinary power of application, to arrive at any thing like just conclusions. To avoid this error has been my object in the following pages. Such points only as are of real importance have been noticed; every thing having been rejected which could not admit of a practical application. For this reason, also, I have omitted all allusion to foreign varieties of the sheep, an account of which is, in some similar works, made to occupy so large a space. The general laws by which animal bodies are governed, and the changes to which they are rendered liable by their subserviency to man, are here—and for the first time as regards the sheep—gone into at considerable length. Too little value is in general attached to such inquiries; though, when endeavouring to improve a domesticated race, we must be perfectly aware, that without this species of knowledge we are like a ship at sea without the guiding aids of the rudder and the compass, and liable to be carried in the right or in the wrong direction only as chance directs.
In conclusion, I need make no apology for any defects that may appear in this little work, having done my best to make it useful to the farmer.
Castle Street, Dumfries,
July, 1838.
CONTENTS.
| Preface | [iii] |
| References to the Plates | [xi] |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| HISTORY OF THE SHEEP. | |
| (1) Origin of the Sheep;—(2) The Argali of Siberia and Mouflonof Sardinia;—(3) The Mouflon of America;—(4) The Mouflon ofAfrica;—(5) British Breeds;—(6) The Lincolnshire;—(7) TheTeeswater;—(8) The Dishley or New Leicester;—(9) The DevonshireNots;—(10) The Dorsetshire Sheep;—(11) Herefordshire or RyelandSheep;—(12) The South Down;—(13) The Cheviot Sheep;—(14) MuggSheep;—(15) The Black-faced or Heath Sheep;—(16) TheMerino;—(17) Teeth of Sheep;—(18) Distinctions between theSheep and Goat;—(19) Horns of Sheep;—(20) Structure of theStomach;—(21) Digestion;—(22) Period of Conception;—(23) Namesapplied to Sheep | [1] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| WOOL. | |
| (24) Wool-bearing Animals;—(25) Structure of the Skin;—(26)Sebaceous follicles;—(27) Connexion of the Hair with theSkin—Yolk;—(28) Periodical decidence of Wool;—(29) Falling offof Wool prevented by Clipping;—(30) Form of Woolly Fibre;—(31)Structure and Properties of Hair and Wool;—(32) Particular soilsinjurious to Wool;—(33) Felting;—(34) Different kinds ofWool;—(35) Alterations caused by Crossing;—(36) Brattingprejudicial to Wool | [16] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| BRITISH WOOL TRADE. | |
| (37) Origin of the Wool Trade;—(38) Invention of Weaving;—(39)Early progress of the Wool Trade;—(40) Introduction of Weavinginto Britain;—(41) Importance of the British WoollenManufacture;—(42) Weavers brought by Edward III. fromFlanders;—(43) Regulations regarding Staples;—(44) Rapidadvance of the Wool Trade in the 14th century;—(45) Subsidiesraised by Edward III.;—(46) Progress of the Wool Trade duringthe reigns of Henry VII., Henry VIII., and Edward VI.;—(47)Encouragement given by Elizabeth to the Trade;—(48) WoollenCloth monopolized by the Merchant Adventurers;—(49) Consumptionof Wool in England increased;—(50) Severity of the ProhibitoryEnactments relating to Wool reprobated;—(51) Emigration ofEnglish families to Holland, and Prosperity of the DutchManufactures;—(52) Fluctuating state of the Trade between1635 and 1698;—(53) King William discourages the Irishmanufactures;—(54) Statistics of the British Wool Trade in1699;—(55) British Woollen Manufacturers rivalled by theSwedes;—(56) Regulations relating to Wool from 1740 to1742;—(57) Impulse given to the Trade by the improvements inMachinery;—(57) Commencement of the 19th century; Duty imposedon imported Wool;—(59) Restrictions on Foreign Wool removed;increase in Manufacturing prosperity;—(60) Countries from whichwe derive our Wool;—(61) Statistics of the Wool Trade from 1800to 1830;—(62) Do. in 1832 | [28] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREEDS. | |
| (63) Introductory remarks;—(64) Early Improvers of theSheep;—(65) Modern Breeders and Improvements;—(66) Varietiesamong Animals, how induced;—(67) Varieties induced bytemperature;—(68) Adaptation of the Sheep to climate;—(69)Changes produced by climate;—(70) Temperature preferred bySheep;—(71) Extent of the alterations produced by climate;—(72)Increase in the number of the Horns;—(73) Causes of the variousforms of the Horn;—(74) The proper temperature required forSheep;—(75) Geographical limits of the Sheep;—(76) Particularforms induced by geographical limit;—(77) Influence ofvegetation on form and disposition;—(78) Breeds required forBritain—(79) Varied nature of the food of Sheep;—(80) Influenceof food on the quality of Mutton;—(81) Differences in thequality of Mutton;—(82) Abuses in Feeding;—(83) Tendency toacquire Fat;—(84) Frequent change of Pasture necessary;—(85)Varieties induced by apparently trivial causes;—(86) Varietiesfrom mode of Breeding;—(87) Breeding in andin;—(88) Opponents of in and inBreeding;—(89) Breeding from different families of the samerace;—(90) Crossing;—(91) Things to be attended to inCrossing;—(92) Choice of Parents;—(93) Influence of Sex;—(94)Method of obtaining a greater number of one Sex, at the option ofthe Proprietor | [67] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. | |
| (95) Introductory remarks;—(96) Putting Tups to Ewes;—(97)Early Lambs;—(98) Lambing-time;—(99) Washing;—(100)Shearing;—(101) Weaning;—(102) Smearing;—(103) Fatting | [128] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| ACCIDENTS AND OPERATIONS. | |
| (104) Introductory observations;—(105) Wounds;—(106) Stoppageof Bleeding;—(107) Removal of Extraneous Matter fromWounds;—(108) Closure of Wounds;—(109) Bandaging;—(110)After-treatment of Clean Cuts;—(111) After-treatment ofPunctures;—(112) Bruises and Sprains;—(113) Wounds ofJoints;—(114) Poisoned Wounds;—(115) Fractures;—(116) CuttingLambs;—(117) Blood-letting;—(118) Removal of Hydatids from theHead | [148] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| DISEASES OF SHEEP. | |
| (119) Introductory remarks;—(120) Cautions in Prescribing;—(121)Classification of Diseases;—(122) Blown or Blast;—(123)Treatment of Blown;—(124) Braxy or Sickness;—(125) Symptomsof Braxy;—(126) Appearances on Dissection;—(127) Causes ofBraxy;—(128) Treatment of Braxy;—(129) Prevention of Braxy;—(130) Pining. Symptoms and Causes;—(131) Treatment andPrevention of Pining;—(132) Staggers;—(133) Diarrhœa;—(134) Treatment of Diarrhœa;—(135) Dysentery or Cling.Symptoms;—(136) Causes of Dysentery;—(137) Treatment ofDysentery;—(138) Prevention of Dysentery;—(139) Scab or Itch.Symptoms and Causes;—(140) Treatment of Itch;—(141) Preventionof Itch;—(142) Erysipelas or Wild-fire;—(143) Red-water;—(144) Leg-evil. Symptoms and Causes;—(145) Treatment ofLeg-evil;—(146) Prevention of Leg-evil;—(147) The Fly andMaggot;—(148) Treatment of Fly-blown Sheep, and Prevention ofattacks from the Fly;—(149) The Sheep-Fag or Ked, and theTick;—(150) The Œstrus bovis;—(151) Sore Teats;—(152)Foot-rot;—(153) Causes of Foot-rot;—(154) Treatment andPrevention of Foot-rot;—(155) Insects in the Air Passages;—(156) Removal of Insects from the Nostril;—(157) Coryza;—(158) Treatment of Coryza;—(159) Rot. Introductory remarks;—(160) Symptoms of Rot;—(161) Appearances on Dissection;—(162) The Liver-fluke;—(163) The Hydatid;—(164) Causes ofRot;—(165) Treatment of Rot;—(166) Prevention of Rot;—(167)Jaundice;—(168) Dropsy;—(169) Sturdy;—(170) Treatment andPrevention of Sturdy;—(171) Trembling;—(172) Treatment ofTrembling;—(173) Inflamed Eyes;—(174) Soft cancer of the Eye | [161] |
REFERENCES TO THE PLATES