, 1840-08-29
From the Cultirdtor.
MANAGEMENT OF sHEEp-No.

FROM TIE CutttCutOT.
MANAGEMENT OF sHEEp-No. s.
The theme | have chosen is indicated by
the caption. You are aware, as well as the
readers of your late paper, that have al
ready written much on this subject, but il is
not, as yet, quite threadbare. 1t will be fol
lowed in the order as announced at the con.
clusion of the last essay; consequently wia-
ter management Of sheep is the subject of the
present chapter; and with your appreciation,
will hereafter contribute father on the great
and important subject of sheep husbandry.
Before entering into details, twill be well to
state, that | shall, as heretofore, confine my.
self to communicating the results OF my own
experience; that the information conveyed
is now, and will be, based on facts-what
my own eyes have seen and hands handled.
therefore in all respects practical; and furth.
ermore, that my system Of management is
more particularly applicable to the finer
grades Of sheep.
In common with good keeping, were | ask.
ed what IS the indispensable and most i'm
portant matter connected with successful
management of sheep during the winter
season, | would unhcsitatingly reply, protec-
ton; and we're asked again and again, the
answer would be the same protection-pro.
eection. By the great mass of farmers howev-
er, it is wholly disregarded; and from thiscause
greater losses have accrued than from any
other within my knowledge. But in former
numbers, the importance of attention to it |
have dwelt upon, bordering on prolixity.-
In view, however, Of its necessity, permit me
to ride my fauoritc hobby a short distance,
in order to show up the advantages to those
who have not been readers Of the /" Farmer"
The positions / have sustained, are as fol-
lows: that protection is appreciation of dis
ease, therefore saving of life: improvement
of fleece: increase of It's weight: Saving OF
proucnder: increased number of lambs: and
not to protect sheep is a violation ofhumani-
ty.
As briefly as possible, | will cite some facts
in support Of each. Before protecting my
flock, which varied in number, from 900 to
400, averaging, say l3O0-the loss amour
ted to from 70 to 100 during the winter, and
once rose to $50. Since protection, now
four years, the average number wintered has
been 1900, and the average loss of each VIM
ter amounted TO only 81; being less than 1
s-4 per cent.
In proof of the second position, | should
be compelled to introduce two invoices,
showing the sorts of two clips, one of which
was shorn the year before protection, and
the other Immediately following, which would
occupy too much space. If any are desir.
Gus OF investigating, they will find the re.
cord on the sorter's books of the Middlesex
Co. at Lowell, or in the May No. of the
Gcnesee Farmer.
As regards the third, for several years be-
fore my Hocks were protected, the highest
average yield of wool per head, was 2 lbs.
. OF. The clip which followed the first win
ter of sheltering, which was the terrible one
Of 1885 and '36, the average of 2 lbs. Ia OF.
the next Ibis IL "a OF, and the last, which
was the lightest, generally throughout the
country, shorn for many years, the average
was 2lbs. 10 l-9 o.; consequently the ag-
gregate gain amounts 10, of four clips, 1859
lbs. This is, Of course, in exclusion of tag
wool, the average amount of which, each
year, was about 480 lbs. The cause of this
increase is to be attributed to the better con-
dition which can be sustained by means of
protection.
In reference to the fourth, saving of prov.
ender-protection has been the cause, to my
certain knowledge, Of saving much hay, but
from want Of actual experiment, am unable
to say precisely how much. One ton to the
hundred, however, ] deem a fair estimat.
OF oats, which ! fed literally before protec-
ton the amount saved is equivalent to 500
bushels each year; and yet, as a confirmation
OF the above remarks that Sheitering is q
means Of keeping up good condition, my sheep
have been in finer order than when they
were grained; showing, notwithstanding the
virtue of grain, that there is more virtae in
pdrm shelter.
The fifth proposition, that protection con-
duces to increase the number Of lambs, is ac-
for by reason of the greater strength
and vigor Of the ewes, arising from good
condition, which, and ] say it most emphati-
caIly again, can only be nnifermly sustained,
but by means Of sheltering. Since the adop.j
ton Of this improved system, the averaged
of lambs, from the same number oil
aues. has been Over 100 each uaay. EormarIvt