Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-03-23
AgriruIturaI.
WINTER MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP


We have recently published several articles
on the winter care of horses and cattle, and
we are confident that the following article on
wintering sheep, which we copy from the
american Stock Journal will be perused with
equal interest and profit, by all of our agri-
cultural readers
lst, Sheep should be Sheltered That sheep
require good. clean, dry place, wherein they
can be sheltered from storms, must be appar-
ont to all who will reason a moment upon the
subject Storms. where the wool becomes
saturated with water. not only impair their
health, but wash out the natural yolk Of the
wool, necessary for its continued growth. All
good wool raisors are agreed in this, and shell
ter and keep dry their sheep, especially in
winter. The farmer will find himself abund
sntly rewarded by taking little pains in this
particular. And even If he has no sheds. for
his sheep to continually occupy in case of
storm, il is good plan to turn the flock in
upon the barn floor until the storm is over.
IL will richly repay him for his trouble. In
fact, would rather my sheep should be shut
up twenty-four hours, without food, than to
be exposed TO a long. cold storm.
BY examining the fbrcs Of wool upon the
Sleeps back, you will find them to be hol-
low, like the hair upon our heads. If these
fbres are suffered to collapse by means Of ex-
posure to the SHOWS and rains Of winter, the
growth Of the wool is retarded, and it will
take long time, with the best care and treat
ment, for nature to reopen the fbres and pro-
duce again that natural health and vigor
Says a prominent wool-grower. 1.-The adj
vantages Of housing sheep are manifold. LIST,
A large per centage Of deaths are avoided
ID, Much less food is consumed Sd, A much
heavier and better fleece is obtained 4th.
The flock comes through thewntcr in a much
finer condition. 5th. The lambs are more Wig
orous and likely to live. In short, reason,
economy and humanity, all conspire TO teach
the important lesson--prouide suitable stables
for your sheep. And he who can. and will
not do it, ought himself to sleep barcfootcd
and alone, on a couch of straw, with open
windows, and under loaky roof, where the
winds 60 piping and careering through every
crack of his cabin. for six months at least,
until he shall have learned to sympathze with
the dumb beasts God has committed to his
care and keeping.
3D. Sheep should hare Water. Many sup
pose that sheep can get along very well with
out water in winter, especially if they can get
snow TO cat. This is another great mistake.
Sheep do not drink large quantities at a time,
but require it often especially if they are not
fed with roots. Just observe the operations
of your sheep during the day, when fed with
dry hay They will run to the trough and
take few swallows Of water, and then back
to thei hay, number of times during TWEEN
ty-four hours and that too when the ground
is covered with snow showing that they pre-
fer water 10 snow. Sheep undoubtedly will
winter without water, but common sense
fl,e 4 Ill ,,tttl
out as with it. for the fluids of the system
must be supplied to keep up healthy organ
ization. In Vermont, where water is plenty
for all. and within the reach of all, that far
mer who neglocts this most important sugges-
ton, should be considered a poor apology for
n wool-grower and should be compelled to
go without himself short season-suflicent-
ly long to teach him that water is necessary
for health and well being.
Sd, Sheep should be fed Nth Roots. That
shoep require some kind of green or succuent
food for winter use, have demonstrated to
my satisfaction. For few years past have
fed potatoes and turnps to a portion of my
sheep, and know they have done much bet
ter than those which have been wintered
without
| raise some three hundred bushels of pota-
toes and one hundred of turnips, annually,
which cut up together, and mix in little
oatmeal or wheat shorts and my sheep do re-
markedly well upon such feed. Especially
is such food good for sheep about to have
lambs, for il will make them have milk should
they lamb any time during the winter.
l think giving green feed to sheep in win
ter is generally overlooked by our farmers
European wool-growers consider this point
Of great importance. Morrell, in the Ameri-
can Shepherd, says, "The feeding of green
food, such as potatoes, apples, hemloek or
pine boughs, &c, is strangely disregarded by
large majority of American wool-growors.
This is prominent point of attention in Ger
man management; indeed, it is thus in every
section of the continent, where fne-wooled
sheep are cultivated. The sheep, if placed in
localities suitable to its general habits, at no
period of the year is so perfectly healthy and
thrifty as during the season of pasturage; and
from this the inference should be deduced,
that succulent food is the prominent inducing
cause. Confinement wholly to dry food does
not comport with that variety Of condiment
which has been urged so frequently, and con-
sequently If provision is not made of some
thing else, it will be followed by disorganized
action of the digestive functions, producing
costiveness and constipation. The disease SO
frequent ana iatal IN American Hooks, called
the ''strotches," results from costiyeness but
this is scarcely known in England, which
arises from the large variety Of food the sheep
are supplied with during the winter months.
In addition to this, further proof may be found
in the fact, that it is never known to attack
the animal during the grass season. The
writer speaks from personal observation, in
stating that a supply of green food is indis-
pensably necessary as preventive of this
disease.
In addition to green food operating thus, it
has tendency to increase the wool and yollS
secretions, and thereby those valuable proper
ties Of wool, such as elasticity, softness and
soundness, are increased and perfected; and
withal, being conducive to health, the condi-
ton is improved and consequently an aug
mented quantity of wool is certain result
These hints, though oit-repeated, may have
tendency to do good if properly appreciated.
MAPLE SUGAR.
The season has again arrived in which the
farmers Of our Screen Hills" and fertile val