The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-03-07
From the Ohio Farmcr.l
Winter management of Sheen,

a. tFhi' NAN hpND. -
FElLND BRowN.--I have in the fol-
lowing arrangement. Civcu description
of our modo Of treating our sheep during
the winter season. | know it is in some
respects incomplete, but itmay subscrve
the interests Of wool-growcrs. by indu,
cug other flock masters to rive the pub
lie the result Of their experience and OBJ.
servation, and thus Indirectly at least
aid in disseminating such knowledge as
the breeders Of good stock may desire.
and thus contribute to the Advancement
Of one Of the noblest departments Of
agricultural life
The 7r'Htcr management Of sheep. in
our climate, really begins in part. in the
month of October, as We not unfrconcnt.
ly have fall of snow about the the 10th
or 2jth Of this month, and if thcrc Is not
snow enough to cover the ground the
severe frostF greatly injurc the quality
Of the feed, and make it necessary that
some more substantial food be provided
for them. at least once a dav.such as hay
or gran. or both, as the are aud condi-
t'oH Vi t"c SLto may require.
FALL FEEDING.
There is no season ofthc year that re-
quiros greater care than this. when we
are compelled to take our sheep from
the succuicnt food of the fields and con.
fine hem to dry hay. The art is to
manage them So that the shock produced
by the change will be least felt. and the
condition of the animal may improve un
til tho winter sets in severely. We
practice feeding hay for some time before
the sheep are wholly taken from the
fields and ifthcy are not already in hah
condition, grain must then be fed, and it
can never be fed to better advantage. cs
pcciaily to lambs, and breeding ewes,
that are adyanccd in age.
1t is much easier putting flesh on
sheep while the weather is mild, than
during the season of pinching cold.
And if they come into the winter in
low flesh, and not in Il thriving condition,
it is well nigh impossible to improve
their condition, till the next spring
SHEET HOUSES AYr RACKS.
They should be carefully housed from
the fall and winter storms, both by Gay
and night. Sheep barns should be dou-
ble.boardod, and made warm. and fur.
uished with good doors. aud glass win
dows, so as to completely shut out the
driving storms and winds. 1t is in no
wise sufficient TO furnish open sheds for
the sheep to 60 under, when they choose.
for they will almost universally leave tie
sheds and stand in the rain, either in tho
fall or winter till they become thorough
ly drenchod with water, aud il the rain.
storms are succeeded by severe cold as
Is often the case, they frequently take a
violent cold from which they will not
recover for long time, aud perhaps
never.
After the grass Of the fields is nos,ly
gone, which will generally be the case in
the early part Of November, our sheep
are brought into the Yards, and not suf-
fered to 90 into the fields again till the
next spring after the grass has attained
sufficient height to furnish full supply
for them.
now WE FEED.
When the sheep are confined to tho
yards or barns. We fodder them, say,
three times a day, and always under
covor in permanent racks made around
the outside Of the barn, and even with
tie top of the sill, and two feet wide,with
a tight floor, with stats, seven inches
xri1a and t,vo an1 n half fa,f l,,s, ,,o,I