parts of Inverness, Perth, and Argyle, and gives universal satisfaction. Although, in a general way, we are inclined to advocate dipping, yet in many parts of the country it would be folly to ignore the superiority of the good old rule of tar and butter. On the Grampian and Monalia ranges, and the highest parts of Ross and Argyle, we consider smearing the perfection of good management.

On such exposed situations, protection and shelter to the sheep is quite equivalent, if not paramount, to its feeding. For the last few years, too, a comparison of the prices of laid and white wools will be found to be in favor of the former. In drawing such a comparison, the relative weights of those wools must be taken into account. It is generally reckoned, that if white wool does not yield one-third more in price than laid wool of the same description, the latter is the more profitable; and the margin at present between those two classes of wool is less than we have ever known it before. White Highland, in particular, has been rather at a discount for a few years back, and complaints are common with manufacturers as to its increasing kempiness and want of lustre. These complaints, we fear, are not without some reason, and may, in a great measure, be attributed to the too general use of mineral poisons, arsenical dips, and dips of caustic properties, which only tend to destroy the natural yolk of the wool, and render it brittle, light and dry. Such dips are most obnoxious, and cannot be too strongly deprecated. If in addition to any good dip, oils were liberally applied, as already indicated, we feel assured much of the kemp and dead hairs complained of would be obviated. We fully concur with Mr. Hope Vere when he says, the dip should be sufficiently strong with oil or grease to repel any approach of moisture, and to promote the secretions artificially when the natural secretions fail. A more generous dip would keep up the character of our white Highland. We may mention, by way of parenthesis, that Welsh wool is even more kempy than white Highland. So much, however, has three years' treatment, as prescribed, improved its quality, fibre, and appearance, on our farm, that lately we had a parcel sold by Mr. Girdwood of Edinburgh, at 1s. per pound; and we are not aware of any other clip in the principality having fetched more than 94d. per pound. Nor is it quality alone, but weight and quantity as well, that oils improve. Mr. Pagan of Invergeldie, one of the largest sheep-owners in Perthshire, uses oils on an extensive scale; his experience should, therefore, be allowed as good authority; and he has assured us that the weight of his clip now is nearly equal to what it formerly was when smeared with tar and butter. He dips

་

with M'Dougall's and Bigg's in equal parts, to which he adds the finest castor oil, one and one-fourth gallon to every twenty sheep.

There are other advantages, however, which we claim for dipping, and which we shall now proceed to speak of. In the first place, its economy recommends it. Our dip for this year; two gallons wocl oil per twenty sheep, appended to M'Dougall's, costs exactly 3d. per head; whereas smearing with tar and butter, or best greases, costs nearly three times as much. A saving of nearly 6d. each is thus affected, which, in the aggregate, on several thousand sheep, forms no mean item.

Again, the time employed in these respective operations should not be lightly passed over. A stock of 5,000 sheep could easily, with a good apparatus, be dipped in four days; whereas the smearing of that number, with say ten men at work, would occupy as many weeks. Smearing is a most slow and tedious process, and during the whole time it drags its length along the amount of tank-work, the amount of dog-work, and the amount of driving to and fro of sheep, generally through the best of the wintering, trampling down the grass, are facts patent to every Highland farmer; and though not perhaps quite so palpable as others in the shape of pounds, shillings and pence, yet cannot be ignored.

In the last place, though not the least, it is rather a noteworthy fact, that white ewes, i. e. dipped or poured, keep their lambs better than laid ewes. Till making the experiment for ourselves, we must say we felt rather skeptical on this score. We tried it on the farm of Beallid, near Kingussie, in 1861. The ewe stock was 2,000, 1,000 of which we laid with tar and butter, and 1,000 poured with

8 lbs. tobacco juice,

6" hellebore,

4" soft soap,

" arsenic,

All grazed indiscriminately over the farm.

for 100 sheep.

It was a bad winter and worse spring; lambs were, therefore, rather a short crop, and as follows:

ewes.

This sum, however, would scarcely compensate for the loss of wool in the white ewes over those laid. The former were much more ragged; but we should, of course, mention that a dense cover, with large quantities of matted underwood, existed on the farm, and

white wool seemed much more susceptible to be ripped and torn off; but the question even as to wool is open to doubt. In this instance, no oils were used; had there been, we feel assured they would have altered the matter.

The result of our experiment, however, went clearly to demonstrate that white ewes invariably yield the largest crop of lambs. The reason why, we must confess, has always remained an enigma to us. [AG.]

58

DUTIES OF THE VETERINARY SURGEON IN THE

EXAMINATION OF HORSES AS TO SOUNDNESS.*

BY GEORGE ARMATAGE, M. R. C. V. S., LINSLADE, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, BEDS.

The experience and difficulties that always attend those in search of a horse are acknowledged to be great (the latter have been decided as insurmountable), and many have largely expatiated upon the question. The decision of a veterinary surgeon being occasionally, and in some districts frequently, demanded, in order to bring about more facile means and favorable conditions, has stamped that department of daily routine which takes cognizance of the defects of horses with as grave importance as any that falls beneath the practitioner's notice.

The benefits to be derived are manifold and mutual. It may be said they hinge greatly upon the qualifications and judgment of the veterinary surgeon, and his mode of conducting the inquiry. When the latter are of the required order, he obtains increase of reputation and emolument; his discrimination in the matter gives him an authority that merits the approval of his clients, and has weight in the elucidation of points upon which a line of correct practice may be based.

The public participate to an extent, which, it is to be feared, is but slightly understood and appreciated, judging from the numerous transactions in horses that occur daily without professional advice, and the misunderstandings that attend the major portion. To the non-professional part of the community, the examination of horses is a most useful proceeding when properly conducted, as its members experience confidence and satisfaction that judgment superior to their own enables them to select a suitable animal, or reject a worthless, if not dangerous "screw;" and lastly, by proper and well-timed advice, many useless and vexatious disputes, which profit no one but the lawyer, are avoided altogether.

The object for which examinations of horses are instituted is the

* From the transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.