The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-10-11
SHELTER For SHEEP.

Every enc perhaps has heard of Tho man whose
roof remained unrepaired to the perpetual deriment
of all dry articles aud sonnd lungs within doors,--
because when il raned he could not repair it, and
when the weather was fair he did not need the re-
pair For a similar reason many focks Of sheep pass
year after year, unprotected, becau shelters not
needed in the summer, and cannot be made in the
depth Of winter. To induce their to adopt
improvement, and provide in time, suitable shelter
for their hocks, we wish to state n few facts in the
Lewis 4. Morrel, OF Tompkins county, n Y, be-
fore no had provided shelter for his flock Of Saxon
sheep, 1900 in number, lost from 20 10 hundred
during winter, and once lost so. For the four
cessiye years after protection the average number
wntered being 500, the average yearly loss amount
ed to only 81, being less than per cent.
J. w. Childors, of the English Agricultural Socie-
iy brought his sheep shelter about Christmas, and
found before two days they did not eat so much as
when exposed, by the proportion Of to 3. When in
the field his sheep required fifty baskets full Of turnips
n day; but when sheltered they needed only thirty
day. 'Yet such great progress" said he "did they
make, tina, you would thought they had been eating
fifty baskets day, when shut up, and only thirty
when in the field " In another expe inent, which
accompanied by accurate weighing and measur-
ing, where turnips and OIL cake given food,
The quantity Of turnps diminished in n few weeks
nearly one quarter, and the oil-cake diminished
third; while the increase of weight resulting from
shelter was more than one third The editor Of the
English Agricultural Gazette, inferred from actual
perments performed by HIMSELF that twice man
sheep might be kept in fatting condition the
same quantity OF food under perfect shelter, un-
der entire exposure. II these results obtained,
in the mild climate of England, what may not be
pected in our severe winters?
L. A. MorreI is satisfied that at least ton Of hay
to The one hundred sheep is saved by protection,
cry winter. "Or Oats, which fed literally before
protection, the amount saved is equal to 500 bushels
each year. and yet my sheep have been in finer order
than when grained; showing, Notwithstanding the
virtue of grain that there is virtue in warm
sheter.'' The same successful manager has also
found that the aggregate increase in -four clips Of
wool from his flock, resulting from protection amount
ed to 1850 lbs; and that The increased number of
lambs exceeded 100 year.
In view orthese facts we wish every farmer to
make calculation of the whole amount of food thus
saved every winter the increase in the weight of his
sheep the saving of life, the increase of wool, and
and the increase in the number of his flock.
IC will cost one dollar per head to winter sheeP
by the ordinary way, then TO winter 1000 would cost
| 81 900.
| One third of this saved would be 1888
The difference in loss by wutering, according
| l.. a. Mo,rell, would be about 80 sheep,
| which ut $s2 a head wond amount to 400
| Putting the increased value Of his sheep, by in
| crease of weight, at one-tenth the value OF
the flock, ZO0
Increase in the fleece. say l60 bs GO
Increase in lambs, say 50 %
$74s
equal to the total saving every year, by the use of
suitable shelter, at a very moderate estimate, and
which would abuudantIy pay for suitable sheds, if
they required erecting every year.
Now is the time of the year to make preparations
to prevent the disastrous results which must always
attend the exposure Of Sheep through our long, stor-
nv, and freezing winters Mt the North albany Cm.