American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-02-25

MANAGEMENT OF FINE WOOL
SHEEP

....... SliEEP. ..- -a
Fine wool is an important staple Of
tho United States, and it is we'll to
examine the rn,tice Of the best grow.
ers, to sec the mode of raising the wool
and breeding the sheep, SOFAS to get the
greatest weight of fleece from the food
consumed, and the average cost of pro.
duction. Nearly all our agricultural
knowledge is derived, not from theory,
but from the experience or experiments
ofjudicious farmers and breeders ami
for this reason, say, we must examine
the practice Of wool growers, in order
TO get at The best management ef fine
wool sheep. ...
First, as to the breed. And here is
some difficulty in deciding. Whether
wo shall get pure Spanish, or French,
Silesian, or Saxony Mcrino sheep, is
hard question. So much depends on
the breeders tact and facilities forscll-
ing off his surplus stock, that breed
good for one place would not be for
another. In some sections, French
Merinos could be profitably bred for
sale and for wool and in1 another,
nothing But Spanish could be. disposed
of. The French Merinos have the
heaviest feeces; the Spanish have
shorter legs and more barrel shaped
bodies and the Saxony and Silesian
the finest wool. Either breed can lie
rnade profitable for the grower: and
perhaps small admiXture ofthe French
blood with the Spanish, would he as
profitable as any breed, wool being
taken into consideration.
1t is requisite that the animal be
covered all over with wool, and that
the fleece be long and close, in order
TO get weight Of fleece. 1t is also re-
quisito that the animal be round, or
barrcl-shapcd, and the legs short. as
tho qualities insure ease of Keeping
the shorter legged animal, cetsris para
bus, eat the less. If the sheep do not
possess these qualifications, then the
breeder must give his attention to this
subject-must procure the best rams
for getting stock possessed of these
qualities, and pcrsevcrc, as did Bake,
well, until he cannot find better sheep
than his own to breed from.
The subject Of the care Of sheep is
the next to be considered and this
will do as we'll for mutton, or coarse
sheep, as for fine wooded sheep. They
should be Kept in small hocks. iii
small psstnrcs, and changed often
from one pasture to anothcr-should
have access to pure water at all times,
summer and wintcr-should be salt.
cd twice week daring the summer !;
but II the hay IS sailed IN the NOW
they do not require sailing "a frcqHcnt-
lynn the winter. Put the rams with
the ewes IN November, if the lambs are
"ah'cH'h hpFh--'Ne Garner NC better,
40 '"o anus attain " 'nF@e' SIZE before
INC ,'t"' winter. ieeo Tue sNc"p on
So"c' "rJ' ~ I"0'$' """r' co'e'; Tor
ny 'ee"'h9 un"'', N goo" "y"' sheds
oho,'l'ta OF tHe nay Is saVca-an I'M
Eo':"''' itc'h III me cost OF raising wool
GIVING the oreeu'ng ewes clover nay, 1t
makes mar , mem give rs nnch mix ms grass
. WIN. wye az ,!e Slle'p, during the
"lhter' ABOUT ha'' Giii OF corn Tor ITS
'rhov m;n v,"o 49," "" r. , wy eae" i
,r";Ghv ,naro '' go" ''|' "'0'
~, 49,, ,,,, @ -
Lac 'amoS ,ahs snes'd be cut oil
Close 10 t"e p'dy' ana 'he male lambs
eas'ra'e'; ny me ',me they are four
weeks olu' lucy o'eed less ana Zeal
sooner 80, 'hah II lett 10 n later age
lney Shou'' nave Sma" y"r"s IN the
"""'er, ana a,.; Sn l,' not DC Turned out
10 grass %n', l' 'ne pastures 'aYG good