Litchfield enquirer., 1862-11-27
Anritultural $; nltfballifal.
'-r1- 1DT1r TSSAy ON SHEEP RAISING

I'C!TE ESSAY ON SbI.lIH i-AICiNO croat i.,,nortance should be attached 10 the svs,em oi ere ,.ing lough, in fact, there IS no concert ,f .s i.u among breeders of domestic an;oal,: e,c4g one according to his own mo- t,ou. wiitout iHyee,-";ln5 to s1e II HIS e0olSe ;s l., act or..at.ce Mi.h those Who nave greater skill and experience. By this methoa errors ara committed ALioh nli.h', and shouiu pe a,o;'iei for cauees cf sli :. 1t importance, thro' = Secession oi yearssp produce very striking re- .,l,s The cou,n.oa snccp-lod5 Of New Eng 1sn3 uresent a medley oi all grades, procured oar..lcssIy. as Q matter of economy, or conven- ;snca. without due consideration to future bene- ft WcrtLIess animals, because obtained mere Iv for vintering, are often served to entire hocks ,.;,b m regard 10 ada ptation, anal, as conse- Snence. the offspring is a tumble of all sorts, fa;r Erepreren,ation of the goat, antelope, and sheep as to form.
 In most aocks there are several classes which sbou,1 he arranged according to form, size, Ieryth of .iaple, density and tineness oi fleece i; each class requiring a buck possessing qualltl and conformation somewhat different. The lon ger legged ewes should be put to shorter leg e,d Buck, ,.,he coarser wooded with one of finer. those of longer, loose staple with one of shorter eaI r,,re dense. Wherever defects exist in any poias of the eve. the buck in the same point should be peculiarly excellent. In this way faults may he ruled out, and improved varieties ear-i.i to still higher degree Of perfection. D7 eoa::aping this practice flock may be Seirs4 D approaeA 2 pretty near resemblance to I-sA o.haf. d v,ry large and a very small ani- s1al, c. thoso greatly differing from the true standard 10 be obtained, should not be paired tosesLs:. 1t is better to dispose of such to tfe sptcher or otherwise. As bad qualities, as we es good ones, are propagatcd in the offspring, lt is eff great importance that both eve ana DUCK be good in every essential point, the buck belng thc teat. The influence ot the buck upon the progeny of the flock is nearly equal to the change that .olld be made by as many ewes or the game go ,dness
 No flock can be permanently improved to nnr considerable extent without adhering to eome particular rule. Defects to bc overcome, spd the cbiect desired, whether improvement lh form. size. fineness and quality of fleece, must be kept constantly in mind. As like begets Ike" which may be general rule, but not al ways true, animals should be paired whose prop erIies combined in the offspring would approach nearest the desired object. To accomplish this, requires nice perception, and careful continued experiment. Any one may raise occaslohaliy a very fine animal, but to breed so that all would closely resemble this one, which would be deslr- abIe. and evidence of care and skill, requires
 
 bv deorees. tlat we improve; but patient per severance has its reward in the success and Im- movement. which can be made, and the satls- faction of possessing a flock of greater tslmila ity and value.
 Cross breeds may be bred towards parity of blood, and attain an acknowledged standard of excellence. almost equalling pure breeds, by using bucks still better and better, ill some re- spects, to each succeeding generation and such only should ever be used. Breeding from very clese alfiuities should be avoided for the very good reason that better selections can generally be made from different flecks.
 Yoaatt says !" inn-and-inn" has many ad- vantasca to a certain extent. It may be pur- sued until the excellent form, and quality of the breed is established. If this be true, why can not the "excellent form and quality of the breed" be sustained or even improved, by the same meihod2 The superior hocks of Ceiling Bakewell and Barlord, resulted from close breeding through long series of years. But il is believed that this practice, except in very skillful hands, tends to deformity, reduction in size. and general debility. The system requires much practice, skill and discrimination to be successful. It is not recommended except by way of experiment.
 The maly comparatively worthless animals seen throughout the country arc not as much the result of an in andinn breeding as carelessness or want of proper attention mingling promiscu ous streams of blood good, bad, or indlfer ent,' regardless of consequences. By such a practice defects have become hereditary, and deterioration and decay will naturally follow Careful selections, judcious crossing, with car, and attention, are the main requisites of sue cess.
 Intimately connected with. thes' improvement of flock IS good keeping It is impossible te raise animals with the finest qualities of the breed developed to perfection, without plenty 0 food suited 10 their taste and habits. Sheep ar, fcnd of frequent change, and desire a variety 0 food Bone and muscle, flesh and fat, wool ant s;l, are sustained, and increased, by the assimi lation of different ingredients by the digestive organs, or 8 full supply of those elements o which they are composed. If a requisite pro portion of these are not obtained, some part 0 che system must languish and fail By lon eoctinued stin,ing, the sizes of any breed be cones reduced, and the. constitution impairet end broken. The increase of such nocks wi da.criorate in form and strength. Betwee "ksJ and grass is a very trying season fo shesp. They delight to get upon the bar Srclnd as soon as they can, and keep upon it a joag as possible, but by neglect, and exposur o atorms, often lose an amount of flesh whic SAey are not able to regain for months. As tn # a becomes short, and frost-bitten, farmer generally let them range the farm at pleasure and pick up what decayng substance they cal 6nd, thinking to practice economy by savin; hay. But the shrinkage of carcase is part
 concealed by the growth of wool, and becaus ehsy 2naw up the old rowen, and look full, ar allowed to get their own living till snow comes This is wrong and actual loss
 Extra attention is now of utmost importance They should be sheltered cold, stormy nights little of the best hay or grain given in tn morning, and if pleasant, allowed to rambl about during the day. Humanity, economy end itinterest. even, dictate that they shout not suffer by neglect Though nature ha given them a superb mantle of increasing tex tdre and rchness, yet if drenched by storms becomes like wet blanket to the weary soldie en a frosty night, engendering disease and pre- mature decay. Wet and dampness, also, lesse the brillancy and soIlncss of the wool, and ar supposed to act prejudicially against its fine ness. By looking well to their necessities a this time, a verifcation of the old adage, Al ounce of preventive is worth pound of cure, becomes strikingly illustrated. Many farmer understand the truth of this and act according Y. A bushel of grain fed now is worth two il the spring. It is hard work to recruit and brn up a sheep to good condition when once poor A little grain seems to have good effect, but
 little given to those thrifty and plump does mucl towards keeping them An early prepara tion for winter is highly essential. Ample pen should be furnished racks arranged, and ever, thing in readiness for feeding. This is oftel delayed for a "more convenient season." mucl to the disadvantare discomfort and iniurv n