The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-02-16
From the Ohio Farmer.
Foot Rot and Gr0und-Itch in Sheep.-
Ohio Sheep--Suggesti0ns i'm reference
to large and small Sheep, as to yield OF

! Fleece.
FRIEND BRowN:-I am exceedingly
glad that friend Ladd has given us his
experience in "Foot Rot" in sheep, that
we may not be deceived by any Of the
various remedies that have lately appear
in the Farmer"
Now my opinion is, in regard to the diff
ferent remedies recommended, that they
have probably all) proved effectual to
those who have recommended them.
There is another disease in the feet OF
sheep known as "Fowls' or "Ground-
Itch" that will, in warm wet seasons,
when the sheep are confined to low, rich
pasture lands, assume almost as formida-
BILE an appearance as the "real foot-rot, y
but which may be cured by less vigilance,
and with less powerful remedies. Re
moving the sheep to higher and drier pas
lures, where the grass is quite short, and
the dew disappears sooner in the morning
will be great step towards its removal,
thereby assisting the remedies applied,
such as passing them through quick
lime in a gate way ga solution of blue
vitriol in water, Sin decocton of tobacco
with turpentine," or the application Of
"salt," &c, DC. Hence the conclusion
of those recommending such remedies,
that they are "sure cures for 'foot-rot. "
My opinion is, without an experiment
of it, that the remedy in the this number
of "Farmer," furnished by Anson Bart
lett, is well worth trial by all "wool
growers" who are, or may be, troubled
with SO perplexing disease in their
flocks as the foot rotis said to be.
Whilst have ink in my pen, permit
me to make few remarks in regard to
some ideas or opinions advanced in the
communication of ''Thomas Reed, of
Dalton" on Ohio Sheep. | have seen the
same done that he tells of seeing done at
estate and County Fairs, viz: that the
judges have generally awarded premiums
to the finest wooled sheep, often entirely
overlooking both the form and size of the
sheep, and the evenness, compactness, ,and
weight of the fleece. His arguments,
throughout as advanced, are well worthy
the serious consideration of sheep farm
ers except such as shall briefly notice.
He says, 1.-TWO sheep of ordinary or ma
rural size will produce more and finer
wool, because they have more wool sur
face, than one as large and heavy as the
two. The feed required by the one is
equal to that required by the two, all con-
suming food in proportion to their weight
Now I take the liberty to dissent from his
opinion in both these particulars. In the
former, because it depends in part upon
the length of the wool, fiber as to quality,
as we'll as to wool surface. If the fiber
upon the large sheep be J longer than on
the small ones, it does not require but two
thirds the surface to produce the same
amount of wool. And in regard to the
latter, much depends upon the disposition
of the animal, about the required amount
food to sustain him. If he is uneasy and
fretful, he will require more food to keep
him in good condition than if he is con-
tented and quiet. And if he is fat, he
will be much heavier, and will require
less food in proportion to weight, than
when he is thin, poor and light.
In giving his experience with French
Merinos he says-"I bought the best
French Merino buck in Ohio; he took the
premium at the State Fair at Cincinnati %
| suppose that he had not seen all such
bucks that were in Ohio at the time. Il
saw the one that he bought, and he was
not my choice of the lot of four that were
then on exhibition at the State Fair. l
had my choice of the lot, and of course |
was as we'll satisfied that got the best as
he was that he got the best. But the fact
is, there were better in Ohio than either
of us got at the time.
I have found that the small fine wooled
ewes, such as the samples of Friend
Reeds stock, that have seen on exhibi-
at the State Fairs, are not the best class
of ewes that we have in Ohio, to breed to
French bucks, for the lambs after they
are week or two old, need more milk to
promote their growth, than such ewes
in common way are apt to give. But a
larger class of ewes bring better lambs,
and pay the farmer better, having better
constitutions, and yield heavier heeces,
that more than make up in quantity what
they lack in quality.
JOSEPH MosHER.
Mt. Gilead, o., 1st mo-, 36th, 1854.
Application of Manure.
MEssRs. ED1ToRs.-It is somewhat re-
markable that there should exist so great
diversity of opinion among farmers up