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.

How to order your Lambs after they are cast: Proper Times and Seasons for Gelding, &c.

Having set the Lamb on his Legs, and directed him to the Udder, make him take it in the Teat, and spirt some of the Milk in his Mouth, that finding the sweetness of the Milk, he may become the more familiar, and find an easie way to it of himself: But before you do this, milk out the first Milk, which is called Colostra, or crude Milk, and very hurtful, if taken by the Lamb, to put it into a Feaver or some such like Distemper, especially in a hot Season.

If when it is proper time he trifle with the Teat, and refuse to take it, anoint his Lips with Cream or sweet But∣ter, and by licking them his Appetite will be stirred up to fasten on the Teat, and once pleased with the sweetness of the Milk, will suck very kindly.

If before the Lamb is fitting to be weaned, the Dam grow sick or dye, if you have not a spare milch Ewe to put him to, suckle him through a Horn, which you must be provided with, suitable on that occasion.

When the Lambs grow over-sportful, and wax wanton, cherish them in it a little; but if housed, separate them with Hurdles, and tye them after ten days to little Stakes with ••o••t Strings, so that they may not gaul their Necks, lest they not only hurt one another, especially the stronger the weaker, but lose of their Flesh, and neglecting feed∣ing, hinder their growth.

Be careful also to separate the weaker from the stronger, especially when their Horns begin to put out, when they are in their Cotts; and be diligent in suckling them Mor∣ning

and Evening, and see that the Ews Milk fall not away or be corrupted by any inbred Distemper, which you may not presently perceive: And so use them till they wax strong; then give them a little sweet Clover or short Hay or Bran mixed with Flower in Water; and the Season be∣ing dry, and not too hot, turn them out to Pasture with the Ews.

Wean them, if possible, in warm weather, which may be conveniently done to such as are healthy or strong at se∣ven weeks or two months, and then keep them high in feed, lest they pine and fall away, in bemoaning the loss of thei•• Dams, or their Stomacks falling off, for want of due Nourishment, renders them sickly and weak.

As for the best time of Gelding, it is in this as in all other Cattle, when the Moon is in the Wain, and the Sign favourable in some of the fore-parts, for it being account∣ed the Sign of Life, participating immediately with the vita•• parts, to cut them when it is in Scorpio, which go∣verns the Genitals, lets out much pure Blood and Spirits, endangering festering and death. This must be done in a warm Season, and some are of Opinion, that the best time is at five months old; but Experience teaches, it may at six weeks, two months, or nine weeks; yet indeed if they continue ungelded three months, they will be of a larger growth, though then there is somewhat more of danger, and when killed, their Flesh will not be so sweet after gel••ing; which you may do in the manner directed for Calves; anoint the Wound with fresh Butte••, keep them up in soft Litter till the Wound cements, and when the foreness is over, or past danger, turn them out into short warm Pasture, and they will feed the better.

••hose that you keep for Rams ungelded, observe to take of that Ewe that brings frequently Ram-Lambs, or that has two Ram-Lambs at a time, which signifies lustiness and heat, and that the Breed will be strong, and able of perfor∣mance.