Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-11-01


now the extended experience of another ten
years. has convinced me that il is impossible TO
Judge of the general character OF sheep until
they have completely assumed their iarfn bv a
two or three years growth. Ny breeding ram
OF the present year Is selection from mnre
than twenty five old sheep, as tnrn out all my
ram lambs with The execution Of few OF the
most Indifferent which yield me mutton weigh
ing from so 10 l0olbs. at two nnd three years
old--lhis is very expensive plao, and one
which but few could think OF pursung-and
the sale of them at S25 each, at twelve or righ-
teen months old, or very extraordinary one
at higher price does not more than remune
rate mr. for The risk and trouble of Attending In
lhem-the qualities aud properties of this ani.
nal are more easily changed by good or had
management thsn in any other OF our domrs-
tic kind aud i'll we're regardless of the guam
THY and quality OF their wool, II would be as ea'
sy tn raise sheep for mutton weighing from 100
10 $50, ass now under the disadvantage of
castratng only my most ind herent lambs, TO
have them weigh from 80 to l00--but with
their present product of wool, 1.-THE ram lambs
generally were easirated, they would exceed
an average of 100 lbs. at two aud three years
old-at the next shearing, (shonld life and
health he spared u.s. satisfactory evidence of
ihair mutton qualities and propensity to fat
w
ms never with me depended upon the luctua-
ting value of the animal or the price OF their
wool but has proceeded from fixed principle
and sentiment that II is of primary importance
to individuals, and scar ely less 10 the commu
nlly, to double the fleece, improve lis quality
AMI cnlarpe AT the SANE time the cafcase, ms il
the price Of wool bad bcen always great-that
TO say. their quality should be uniformly sus-
thin. d, OF whatever breed they may be- and
then their plumbers may he reg lated by chan
oing circumstances 10 meet the market, whe-
Their high or low Experience and accidental
occurrences prove with regard TO improve
mems in the animal, as well ms in the vegetable
cfeationt that occasional crosses and changes
are essential, aud il requires the most constant
vigilance in man, IL watch their progress,
change and decline, in order TO timely SUE
&c :sion-this II AT all neces-a airy, would be
further means OF expanding The evidence IN
favor OF the Scripture assertion. that man must
| ioil vgautly and necessarily with both mind
aud BODY, It he expects 10 meet with greet +uf-
cess as the secrets of nature are such that the
greatest strength aud extension OF his faculties
will never he sufficient to fathom the works OF
creation. Information has been frequently
solicited in regard 10 the mana cement and DIS.
eases OF sheep. as il come extraordinary skni
or knowledge had been applied The time has
i
nr some fortunate Observation, the effect OF
much diiigent attention, can be wrapped up IN
profound mystery and made to operate Tor the
exclusive benefit of some fortunate much
famed breeder. Whenever real success has
attended the Improvement of domestic animals,
il has been by adapting The nature OF the an
imal 10 the means provided Tor ITS support, aud
necking by constant observation every pro-
penstiy TO depart from direct line OF improve
mcnf. | profess bui little skill IN their manage
mput-it has not been very long, that by On
inndicious selection Of ram found myself
| thtown back perhaps two years in the line of
| Improvement but the error affords an insighi
! winch may upon the whole be- beneficial, 1t is
hoped on 4 more extended scale. As IL regards
their dlseoses-candor must acknowledge an
enlre ignorance (praclically) on the subject
TIE voumlnous Nod scientific ESSAYS which
come TO us f ON abroad, have as little bearing as
use o every American shepherd who does
f not crowd Bumbefs of sheep on the same
grounds. sufficient of Itse,i to originate disease.
+ An affection OF the head which makes its ap
pearance once in every five or six years, and
perhaps carries off as many iat subjects is the
, only maIsdy have ever known since the eK.
termina ion Of the scab introduced by the span
ish hockS about the time OF the war--and be
! lieve this disease of the head is more the effect
Of peculiarly oil season than any thing else,
! Il as difficult 10 be accounted for as some OF the
| CON plant incident TO the human frame. 1 heI
| general health then, depends upon an attention
| to few simple practces-th"r numbers TO be
cove rned by the size and quality oil their pas
ture-but hocks exceeding fifty or one humid ed
/ should have frequent changes, OF have al OK
tpnsiye wood range: a hr'n old sod is mdls-
! pensahe at some seasons 10 the prosperity OF
| sheep, aud should always be heir main support
! u a 4. a
auxiliary, and is often injurious when not used
! with circumspe A small supply of salt
and meal mixed half and half twice week,
with an occasional use of tar in their trJughs
: is highly essential-their winter keeping, must
DEPEND much upon the soil aud climate, aud
the severity o the SEASON. sheltering should he
made optional with them-but they should new
er be confined in any place, great or small,
where a damp eflnva may arIse-tbetr nature
] plainly teaches that they require high, DRY
aud cool situation al all umes lfIt were not
unreasonable 10 ask your further patience,
would go into some detail OF the manner OF pro-
viding FOR flock Of seventy ewes last tall and
winter. with their lambs nuI the simple facts
are that they were sustained from The LIST No
yember, (when they began 10 have their fist
sci of lambs,) throughout the winter on five
acres of orchard grass, and five acres OF turnIps
and rye growing together, alter sIT hundred
bushels OF the former had been housed for the
use of the short horn calv~s, &c.--this, 'Ogetn-
er with half a pint OF meal per day, for each
individual for three months, was The only cost
ofthe seventy ewes. raising eighty odd lambs,
IN addition TO their English, and blue grass
sod. 1t was very evden, that the lambs were
weaned six weeks sooner with great advantage
in consequence Of this uniform allowance of
meal as they always feed eagerly with their
"A W., fall,
ing more than forty lambs, an increase not de-
sirable, and uueI pected-a favore ram being
permitted to remain with them too long. never
counting on the possibility of thcl, receiving
him SO soon after their yeaning. Nohwith-
standng lhls hard breeding they are Known 70