The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-11-26

NECESSITY on PRoTEcTION.-There is
nothing says the author Of tile American
Shepherd. apperfaining to sheep econo-
my. more generally neglected than pro.
vision of ample and warm Accommodations
for shelter. and from no other cause does
snch large losses accrue. Il Is rigidIy
praclised in Prussia. Germany. Scotland
and the northern parts Of Eugland and
every sheep historian recommends it,
So indispensable is il held. that The au-
thor Of Scotch work upon the subject.
lays down this emphatic rule: "Shelteris
the first thing to be attended 10 in the
(winter) management Of sheep"--a rule,
whose common sense must commend il
TO the adoption Of every sheep owner
While every good shepherd is hostile 10
their heing confined or TO their being
forced into shelter, whether they wish il
or not, il cannot he too strongly recon-
mended 10 all sheep farmers. to put ibe
means Of avoiding the severity Of stormy
weather within the reach Of their hocks
at all times. To illnstraie The advantage
of shelter, our author adduces the exam.
pie of Mr.. Spooner'S experience. which
we will give in his own words. He says:
"Unil within the last Ten years, the
writer's fpcks, like thousands of fOihcrs at
the present time in this and other States,
were denied the benefits of shelter; and
the loss. in proportion 10 the severity of
winters, varied from s to 10 per CENT
The diseases caused by their exposure
were such as pelt, scab. rot, dysentary
and colds, which caused an excessive
discharge of mucus from the nostrils.
while many died from no other cause,
apparently, than sheer poverty Of condi-
tion. Since, however, his sheep ,aye
been protected. the deaths have not ex-
ceeded one and half per cent. in re-
gard 10 the number. and if comparative
value were the standard, it would not he
considered Of any moment, as the loss has
been mostly among diminutive spring
lambs some from bad nursing. and old
ewes which from superiority of fleece or
carcass, were retained thus long to breed
from"
Protection materially increases the
weight of the fleece and improves lis
quality. The shelter enables the am
NAL the better to retain its flesh, as also,
to receive accessions, and as a conse-
quence, 10 increase its fleece, as the Sc.
creiions which produce flesh and the fluids
which impart growth to the wool all pro-
ceed from the same source. But as facts
are more reliable than theory, we will
state that the flock of the writer increas-
ed in weight of fleece, by shelter, from 2
making an aggregate difference in the
weight of the wool Of his flock of 1000
pounds. The wool, too. is greatly i'm
proved in softness, as also in soundness
and evenness oflbe fibre, properties which
tend much to enhance its value in the
market.
The superior condition of the ewes, in
duced by the comforts of shelter, materi-
ly increases the number of lambs.
Shelter saves provender, as animals
consume less food When kept in comfort
able quarters than when exposed 10 the
iuclemency of the weather, under the lat
ter circumstances, a large portion of ;heil
food, by the law of necessity existing il
animal economy. being appropriated tc
purposes of heat, which under the form
er condition would have gone to the pro.
duction of flesh, muscles, and fat.
FEEpING.--Hay is the standard of sheep
feeding, and it is presumed that sheep
which receive daily. per head, 3 lbs. o.
first quality hay, its equivalent in thai
and otherfood. can be subsisted ina health
full wool and milk producing state. The
long wooled sheep require more food thai
, the small fine wooled ones. While th,
former would require from 3 to 81 lbs. o
> hay or its equivalent in other food, the lat
ter may be subsisted upon 2 10 % lbs. O
or its equivalent, per head; The rule be
:; ing that % lbs of hay is required to sup
port, daily, every 100 lbs. live weight.
If straw be substituted for hay, it vii
require thrice the quantity, and it shoulc
be chopped and moistened with water
and mixed with vegetables, such as po
,aloes, turnips, cabbage, &c.
} The stalk of Indian corn, cut fine, /
very nutritious food for sheep--so are al
so corn cobs ground fine and moistened
Beans ground into meal, and nike
: with chopped hay or straw, in the follow
-
r ing proportions. make an excellent pro
ducing provender. One half pound bea
l meal, 2 lbs. huy--or ] lb. bean meal AM
/; 8 lbs. straw.
IF Barley or Oats be fed TO sheep,
, half pint of either grain may be substitu
b. ted for pound of hay-but each of thes
Il grains should be chopped and moistene
\ and mixed with cut hay or straw a
g the case may be.
|. BosToN LIBERAIrY.-ln the city {
!. Boston last year, 2,2S1, $40 dollars wer
, given for the promotion of education
! and 2,272, 600 dollars for the purposes {
n charity