Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-02-21
AGRICULTURAL.
Something Abaut Sheen.

There are several breeds of sheep, the
best being the South Downs and Cotswolds,
which are generally sold to the hatcher for
mutioa or lamb, and The Merino which fur
nishcs the best wool. The Leicester sheep
was very highly priced at one time, and
this breed, or grades which are known by
the name Of Leicesters, is thought well Of
still. but the Cotswold and the Downs have,
10 considerable extent taken their place
in localities where sheep are raised fox the
butcher.
In the vicinity of large markets and
where pasturase is expensive, it will "
found 10 be most profitable 10 raise sheep
for the market, only making wool seen
dairy object. Bat in remote aud mountain
Gus regions, where land is cheap and not
suited 10 cultivation, they may be proiiiably
kept for the wool Many, however, think
that even for wool, the larger breeds may
be equally profitable, on account of the
greater weight Of their long aud coarse
wool, which is well suited for many kinds
of fabrics, aud commands good price in
yhe market.
Mutton Of a choice quality usually brings
a higher price in the market than beea,
though it costs much less per pound TO pro-
duce, and the offal or waste is less. The
objection TO keeping the smaller breeds or
the old natives, based on the expense Of
fences, does rot apply so strongly to the
larger OF mutton breeds, like the Cotswolds
which are generally very quiet and easily
kept
One Of the most important matters to be
attended to in the keeping of sheep, is their
shelter in winter. They require less food
and do better when well protected, than
when exposed. Good ventilation is also
very important, hence il is best TO give them
sheds open to the south.
To ascertain the difference in the c5st
and grain of proper shelter, and exposure
to the weather, for sheep, in the milder eli
snate Of England, twenty were kept in the
open field, and twenty others of nearly
equal weights were kept under comioria-
BE shed. They were fed alike for three
winter months, each having one-haf pound
Of linseed cake, one. half pint of barley, and
a little hay and salt per day, and as many
turnips as they would eat. The sheep in
the field ate ali the barley and oil cake, and
about sixteen pounds of turnips each per
day, as long as the trial lasted, and increas-
ed in all five hundred and twelve pounds
Those under the shed consumed at first as
much food as the others, but after the third,
week they each ate two pounds less of tar
nips per day, and in The ninth week, two
pounds less again, or only fifteen pounds
per day. OF The linseed cake they also ate
about one-third less than the other lot, and
yet increased in weight seven hundred and
ninety pounds, or two hundred and seventy
eight pounds more than the others.
Ten fine-wooled or Merno sheep, win
eat about as much as medium-sized cow
The Merinos yield the best wool, the Cots
void the most wool and mutton, and the
South Downs mutton of the bes. quality.
1t will be found useful to attach bells to
several of the flock. BY this means dogs
may often be prevented from attacking
them, and if the sheep are raolested, warn
ing is given. This is also a protection
against foxes.-Nanual Of agriculture.