Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-05-31
Sarmsrs' AspattRsnt.
Management Of Sheep.
Hoe 10 get mp a good Flock and hop 10 Make
IL O. Profitable Business

Hoe to get mp good Flock and how to Make
10 a Profitable Business.
1t is seldom we find more good, sound
common sense in the same space, than is
contained in the following article from n
correspondent of the Michigan Farmer.
We recommend it to the attention of ev-
cry farmer who is at all interested in
raising sheep:
''As sheep husbandry is one of the
branches that l am engaged in, | will
give what | consider some of the secrets
of success, or rather some Of the requis
ties to success in this department. 1t is
thought by many that sheep need but lit
tie or ne care, from the fact that they
seem to flourish almost everywhere. We
find them in every valley, on every plain
and upon every hilltop. where civiliza
tion has gone. The most casual obscry-
or will not fail to see the difference be-
tween fifty and one hundred per cent.
net profit on his flock. There are nu-
uesoas Cocks in my own observation
that don't yield more than from two and
4 half to three and half pounds per
head and that Of EN- inferior quality,
worth say thirty or thirtyfve cents per
pound, while the average Of my flock is
six pepnds per head worth from forty 10
fifty cents per pound. There is also
difference of three to one on each sheep
whcn offered in the market. Many are
ready to say that these are mere asser-
tions. Any one that will visit my flock
will see that | have not ovcrratcd them.
And now for the ways and means of get
ting up the right kind Of flock
First, then. / never allow my ewes to
breed till the spring they are three years
old. | never desire to see twins. If
they make their appearance, | give them
an extra chance to keep them up with
the rest OF the 1ocl,. l never breed from
any old broken down ewes never al
low my buck or bucks to run with the
8ock at any seaaon et the year had
rather tend my buck with one hundred
ewes than turn him in with twenty-five.
This course is very beneficial to the buck
and still more to his stock These are
points that any one will admit that will
reason for a moment. never allow
more than forty sheep to run together.
| never keep my sheepin pastures where
they cannot get on dry ground to stand
or lie down. | raise carrots or rutabag.
as for my sheep instead of feeding grain
It is natural Cor sheep to want to get to
the ground, and roots are more like green
feed and hence better for them than
grain. have my lambs begin to come
about the Goth of April, and take them
away from the ewes the 10Th Of August
In this way the lambs become weaned,
and tako to feed before cold weather be-
gins, and the ewes get up in grand ord.
err before winter, besides they are much
more likely to bring lambs the next sea
son. If at any time l have sheep that
does not appear to do we'll. take it i'm
mediatcly from the flock, and if it does
not readily recover, | kill. sell, or give
it away. | give my sheep some kind of
a shed IN winter, to resort to when they
choose never care about sheep hay
ing drink in tho summer, if they have
good pasture.
Care should be taken not to give too
much salt in hot, dry weather, where
there is no water in the pasture. keep
a Careful watch over my flock, and if
hava 10y ewes that do not breed to suit
M, spose of them aud their stock.
Ma r, should be taken with regard
to .-l.4s crosses among sheep. as well
as " afher animals, and don't forget
or Ii to give your sheep Il sufficient
amo.l feed in winter, or pasture in
suum-s, 90 keep them in good condition
III use many items two numerous to
meu,oo 4cre that will suggest them
sclyea y u careful observer, as the pro-
cess OF care and feeding advances. Many
othyr things may be said with regard to
sheep ai'iire, will venture to say that
an ono lhat will adhere strictly to the
above raics may rear a flock that will
be Of iarge size, good form, aud uni
form in appearance. and with consti-