The husbandman, farmer and grasier's compleat instructor. Containing choice and approved rules, and directions for breeding, feeding, chusing, buying, selling, well ordering and fatning bulls, cows, calves, rams, ews, lambs, swine, goats, asses, mules, &c. : How to know the several diseases incident to them, by their signs and symptoms, with proper remedies to cure them; : as likewise all griefs, and sorrances what-ever. : Also, a treatise of dogs, and conies, in their breeding, ordering, and curing the distempers they are subject to. : To which is added, The experienced vermine-killer, in particular directions, for taking and destroying all sorts of vermine in houses, out-houses, fields, garden, graneries, and other places. / By A.S. Gent.

To make choice of your Rams and Ews for good Breeders, and rear a healthful Stock, &c.

To make a good choice of Sheep, take the following Directions, as the best approv'd by all that deal in them.

As for the Ram, see his Eyes are brown, his Ears great his Breast, Shoulders, and ••uttocks broad, his Stones large his Tail broad and well cover'd with Wooll; that he •• l••rge and long of Body, his Forehead broad, round, and well rising, his Nostrils streight and short, with a very smal•• Muzzle, his Horns not extraordinary large nor scaly-r••ug•• tho' some approve of those without Horns, or very littl•• o••es, especially in the Southern parts, accounting the Dod∣d••r Sheep the best breeders, because in this case is not so d••ngerous; the Neck must be large and right, bending like a Horse; the Legs small, short, and nimble; the Belly deep and well Woolled; see that his Tongue be not black nor speckled, for then, according to the Verses of an excellent Observer of these matters, he will get black and speckled ••ambs, which are not accounted good for rearing or ••reed, viz.

And tho' the Ram in sight be white as Snow, If black within his Jaws, his Tongue be wrought, Refuse him quite, lest if he ••eap the Ewe, He does infest thy Fou•••• with Colour na••ght.

To chuse your Ews, take these Directions, viz. The best time to buy or chuse them from the Fould is at Two years old, and not exceeding Three: And as for knowing the Age, take notice, that the first Year he will have two broad Teeth before; at two, four broad Te••••h; at three, six; at four, eight; and then the Mouth begins to break, and the Teeth to grow short and stand out of order: Observe that she has a deep Belly, white and shining, Wooll soft and plyable, a long Neck, large Dugs, smooth Horns, large, b••••ck, and gold colour'd shining Eyes, long and lean Legs, a Tail long, and well cover'd with Wooll.