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.

Profit••ble Advice to Shepherds, or those that have the Govern∣ment, and ordering of Sheep.

As for those that undertake the Care of Sheep there is a great charge and care lies on them, if they intend they shall turn to any good Account; and therefore I shall con∣clude this particular Treatise, with some Directions not, or very slenderly touched on.

Fi••st, It behoves the Shepherd to know what Food is good and nourishing for Sheep, and what hurtful, so that by chusing the one, and eschewing the other, he may keep his Cattle in good health: The Grass most wholsom for Sheep, is that which has store of Mellilot, Clover, Cinquefoil, Pempernel, Broom, and white Henbane growing among it. That which is unwolsome for Sheep, is that which has growing among it Spare-wort, Penny-wort, Penny-Grass, or any Weeds, or Flowers that grow from the overflowing of Water, or Inundations; as Brooklime, Mareblabs, Lady Smocks, Smallage, &c. also that which has ••notted Grass growing among it is not good, nor where the Mildew falls, or such as is spotted with it.

Of all Rots, the Hunger Rot is the worst, for it pu∣trefies the Skin, and Flesh. The next is the Pelt Rot, which cometh by great store of Rain, or going in much wet immediately after being Shorn; for the Wet Mil∣dewing,

the Sk••n corrupts the Body; and this is most 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Fie••••-sheep wanting shelter.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whi••e Snales which the Sheep will li¦〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 will soon rot them; and if you perce••¦〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 a•• the Ews Teats, that stop the Milk, wh〈…〉〈…〉 th•• 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 them away.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Sheep will have a bladder of Water •• 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 which must ••e Lanced, and let out in 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 will not pr〈…〉〈…〉.

In a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of G••ievances and Sickness, the party 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 to tend, or look after Flocks of Sheep, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 by their Feeding and Ordering, from what ca〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sickness or Griefs may chance to arise, or happ〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Cold, his ••••st way is, as soon as he sees them •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to drive them to shelter; if from Heat, to d〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to feed in shady cool places.

It is best buying them in March, when they have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out the Winter. As for the Terms given them in m〈…〉〈…〉 Co••••tries, for the better understanding them, take th•• Rule: The Lamb for its first year, is called a Weath〈…〉〈…〉 ••og: The second year the Male is called a Weather, •• gelded; the Female a Theaf, and then she is fit for the Ra•• If she passes another year, she is then accounted a dou〈…〉〈…〉 Theaf, and the best Breeder: As for Lambs, those th•• Suckle, are for the sweetness of their Flesh, preferred be∣fore Grass-Lambs; he must always have Necessaries re〈…〉〈…〉 to assist the Cattle, if taken ill, or hurt, and good Do〈…〉〈…〉 to guard them, especially on the Purlews where they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out late in the Evening, or all Night; for though we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not infested with Wolves in this Country, yet we ha•••• mischievous Creatures to injure them in their Lambin•• time, by killing and sucking the Blood of their young, •• not carrying themaway; your larger sorts of Pol-Ceats w〈…〉〈…〉 do this; but the Fox in Lambing-time, makes their Blood h•• beloved Food. There are likewise Dogs very cunning •• this Trade, for they will go several Miles in a Night t•• ••ind out Sheep and Lambs, and having worried them, and ••••ti••ted themselves with their Blood, return, as if the•• had been no ways concerned; washing and licking the••∣selves so clean, as if they had not stirred from their K••••∣nels,

being sure to be at home e're any of the Family is stirring; and if they find themselves watched towards their Homes, so cunning they are, that they will make more dablings than the Hare, to avoid the pursuit or dis∣cover •• where their Habitations are.

I have heard of a Mastiff that was kept up in a Coller and Chain, but having got before a haunt of this Trade which perhaps caused his restraint, he seemed uneasie o•• his Confinement at first, but within a little while, appear∣ed no ways disordered, or disturbed at it; there was th•••• a great Rumoùr of many Sheep being worried in the Fiel••s, and this Dog having been before suspected, they charged his Master with it, but he declared it could n•• be, for his Dog had not been out of his Coller for many Weeks before this happened; but one affirming, he saw a Do•• that had worried Sheep, come running into his Yard, of the same bigness and colour, it came in the Man's Head to cause him the next Night to be watched, but so, that the Dog could not see the party did it; when, about Midnight, the Moon shining, he came out of his Kennel, and sitting on his Tail, with his two fore-feet, with the help of his hinder ones, he thrust off his Coller, and ha∣sted to his Prey, and about three hours after came home, and put his Nose into his Coller, run it to the length of the Chain, and by straining with main sorce, thrust his Head in, licked his Feet, rubed his Nose clean in the Straw, lay down to sleep, as he had never removed from that place. This being told, created much Wonder and Ad∣m••ration, at the cunning and sensibleness of the Dog; so, that for his Policy, many interceeded to save his Life, but the Owners of the Sheep being clamorous, and threaten∣ing the utmost prosecution of the Law in that case, he was doomed to the Halter, and after all his cunning, had a Dogs Fate.