to an ordinarily fair sheep-run
calculated to carry one sheep to every five acres--that is, of course,
for the native or indigenous grass; the same ground cleared and laid
down in English grass would carry three to five sheep to the acre.

A settler having obtained his run is bound by Government to stock it
within a year with a stipulated number of sheep per 1,000 acres, failing
which he forfeits his claim to possession. A man holding a fairly good
run of 30,000 acres may feed from 3,000 to 4,000 sheep upon it, making
due allowance for increase and disability to dispose of surplus stock.

The farming is conducted as follows: The flock is divided into two or
more parts, in all cases the wethers being kept separate from the ewes
and lambs, and occupying different portions of the run, the object being
that the ewes and lambs may have rest, the wethers being liable to be
driven in for sale or slaughter.

A shepherd is put in charge of each flock, and he resides at some
convenient place on the boundary, whence it is his duty to walk or ride
round his boundary at least once a day, and see that no sheep have
crossed it. If he discovers tracks made during his absence he must
follow them until he recovers his wanderers.

It is not necessary that a shepherd should see his sheep daily; he may
not see a third of his flocks for months, unless he wishes to discover
their actual whereabouts; he has only to assure himself that they have
not left the run, and it is practically impossible for them to do so
without leaving their footprints to be discovered on the boundary.

The breeding season is spring and the shearing season summer, which
corresponds to our winter in England. The usual increase of lambs, if
the ewes be healthy and strong, is 75 to 95 per cent. in about equal
proportions of male and female.

When the lambs are about six weeks old the entire flock is driven in for
cutting, tailing, and earmarking. The tails are cut off and the ear
nicked or punched with the registered earmark of the station, and a
certain number of the most approved male lambs are reserved. A good hand
can cut and mark two thousand lambs per day, and not over one per cent.
will die from the consequences. When the operation is over, the flock is
counted out and handed over to the shepherd to take them back to their
run until the shearing season.

At this time a complete muster is made; all hands turn out on the hills,
and every sheep is brought in t