Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-06-28
MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP.

1t is generally admitted that in north
ern Vermont no animal pays the farmer
better than the sheep. Yet il is quite
apparent that in most cases they are
treated with gross neglect. They are
the first animal turned away from the
barn in the spring, and the last taken in
in the fall. The poorest pasture is allot-
ted them in summer, while in winter they
seldom get a share of good hay. The
stock yard is often their only shelter, and
snow their only drink. Being often
troubled with vermin of the most annoy
ing kind they seldom get any relief from
the hand of their owners till he comes
with shears in hand to take their coats
land occasionally portion of their pelts)
to supply his own wants. Under all this
unkind treatment, there is no animal OF
its proportionate size and cost which con-
tributes so much to the wealth and con-
venience of man.
In view Of allthese facts, any improve
ment in the treatment and management
of these useful animals should engage
the attention of every farmer. l there
fore propose in this short article to give,
in brief detail, The plan pursued by an
acquaintance of mine living one hundred
miles north Of this place, and as / am in
formed, with decided success. 1t is as
follows -
First, build barn Of sufficient size to
allow three square feet to each sheep in
tended to be kept in it, with cellar I'M
der the whole building which should be
secure against frost in the coolest wealth
er. In one end of this cellar, have a
place for keeping roots; in the other,
have cistern and pump to be supplied
with water from the roof; the whole
space above the cellar being for storing
hay, &c. On two sides of the cellar have
drive way for going in and out with a
team, having racks on all sides for feed
ing the hay from above, with ventlIating
windows on the sides above the walls and
under the sills. The cellar should be at
least eight feet deep. Next, arrange to
have your lambs drop during the two last
weeks in January. From the time that
the sheep come home to the barn, which
should be on the appearance of the first
snow, allow them to have ingress and
egress to the cellar till the first of Janu
airy, when they should be taken in to &C
no more out till the next grass. After
being taken in, and two weeks before the
lambs drop, they should be sheared.-
Their feed should be raised by the use OF
roots, turnips being best to produce good
supply of milk for the young lambs.
But, says one, you can never make me
believe in shearing sheep in January
am quite aware that all our notions o
agriculture, politics, and religion are more
or less conventional and hard TO over
come, hut before condemning the methoc
above mentioned as utterly faIacious by
calling it all paper farming, allow me tc
bring to your notice some of its advant'
ages when compared with the present
, method. First, my friend who has tried
it for several years says he gets more
wool and better quality. Secondly, hi
gets more lambs and with far less trouble
< losing none by wild animals. Third,
\ sells his lambs for more money in jun
than the same lambs would bring in No
IS vember. Fourlhly, his sheep are neve
{ troubled with ticks. Filthy, his sheel
are all fit for tho butcher in November
u which enables him todspose of those n,
longer fit Tor breeding at a lar price
70 while at that season an old poor sheeI
l. would'be nearly worthless. Lastly, th
~ value Of the manure is more than doub
led. The objections to this method ma,
be named.i in one item, which is the cos
, of the building and cellar. But this i
:, by no means nh extra outlay, as it j
made a storehouse, which must be had il
!, some form at all events-al of which i
II respectfully submitted for the considera
- ton of our farming community by
S. STEELE.
r Derby, June 20, 1861.
~ RECEIpT ToP PRESERVING SINK