Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-01-11
AGRICULTURAL
Management of Sheep.

Nalihgcntht Oh sHctP.
As sleep husbaudry is one Of The branches
that am engaged ia, will give what
consider some of the secrets oil su cess, or
'ralLer some Of the requisites Of success ia
this department. II is thought ly many
that sheep need but little or no care from
the fact that they seem to flourish almost
everywhere We find them on every val
ley, on every plain, aud upon every hin
top, where civilization has gone. The most
casual observer will not fail to see the differ
tnee between fifty and one hundred per
cent net profit on his flock. There are nu-
merous hocks in my own observation, that
don't yield more than from two and half
TO three and half pounds per head, and
that Of an inferior quality, worth say thirty
or thirty-fve cents per pound, while the
average of my flock is six pounds per heal,
worth from ioity 10 fifty cents per pound
There is also difference of three to one
on each sheep. when offered in the market
Many are ready to say that these are mere
tons. Any one that will visit my flock /
will see that have not overrated them
Aid now foe the WAYS and means Of getting
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 any twins. If
tI4av NAH tl,o;r a,,n.oranoa 7 n;ra tL,,, -,
extra chance, to keep them up with the rest
of the flock. / never breed from any old,
broken down ewes. i never allow my buck
or bucks to run with the flock, at any sea-
son of the year. had rather tend my
buck with one hundred ewes than turn him
in with twenty-five. This course is very a
beneficial for the buck, and still more to !
his stock. These are points that any one
will admit, that will reason for moment.-
| never allow more than forty sheep to run
together never keep my sheep in past
-ure where they cannotg get on dry ground
to stand or lie down. raise carrots or
ruia bagas for my sheep, instead of feeding
grain. 1t is natural for sheep to want TO
get the ground, and roots are more like /
green feed, and hence better for them than
grain. have my lambs begin to come i
about the goth of April, and take them ii
away from the ewes the goth of August Y
In this way the lambs become weaned, and .
take to feed before cold weather begins and s.
the ewes gel up in grand order before win
ter, besides they are much more likely to Il
bring lambs the next season. If at any b
time, have sheep that does not appear T
TO do well, take it Immediately from the Il
flock, and if it does not readily recover, .
kill, sell or give il away, ] give my sheep e
some kind of shed in winter, tc resort TO 0
when they choose. never care about h
sheep having drink in summer, if lliey will f
have good pasture. e
Care should be taken not to give too II
much salt, in hot, dry weather. where there ci
is no water in the pasture. / keep care y
'ul watch over my flock, and if / have any 10
ewes that do not breed to suit me, / dispose h
Of them and their stock. Much care should -
be taken with regard TO judicious crosses &
among sheep as well as other animals, and y,
don't forget or neglect to give your sheep a ey
sufficient amount Of feed in winter, or pas to
lure in summer, TO keep them in good con- W "
iition. There are many items, too numer- ct
,us to msnlion here, that will suggest them 10 10
selves TO careful observer, as the process Sc
# care and feeding advances Many 9th 81
+ things may be said with regard TO sheep A. A.
culture, but | will venture to say that any ri
me that will adhere strictly to the above ma
Jules, may rear flock that will be of large no
'ize, good form, and uniform in appearance, wi
md with constitution that will resist all S.'
he diseases to which sheep are subject. ly
all