Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-03-07
Sheep Raising.

/ commenced kee eping sheep in 1858.
Kept the common merino four years, and
not being satisfied with them. as they. on
my keeping, would shear but four TO six
pounds OF wool per head, made Jour-
) ney to Pomfret, w., and purchased of
Peter Fuller some Spanish sheep, At
wood as termed, and have raised lambs
from them and others bought of w. r.
Sanford, Of Orwell, VT, till my present
flock numbers thirty y-four-sixteen bred.
ing ewes, eight yearins ewes, eight eve
lambs, and two bucks. feed hay three
times per day, with four quarts of oats
per day to the thirty-two ewes. My
sheep sheared last June from FIVE and
halt to ten and half pounds of washed
wool, averaging seven and one fourth
pounds per head. My bucks sheared.
one l3 and the other Is pounds wool un-
washed. | think there is no sheep that
will pay so well in wool for good keeping
as the Atwood sheep; and | am sure
there is no sheep that will do we'll or
even keep their wool qualities good on
very poor keeping.
BosToN, Jan. 81, 1862.
As has been said long ago, "Sheep is
an animal with a golden hoof; he enrich
es wherever he treads." There is no
country or climate better than that of
New England for sheep culture, and the
neglect of it has done more thaa anything
else to impoverish our lands. Permit
me to make one remark upon the article
OF Jan. -, in relation to corn fodder for
sheep. L agree with the writer that as
enc article of food, ii is undoubtedly ex.
ceIlent for sheep, but that no one kind of
TODD Is sufficient for their healthy condi-
Ilon. Sheep require variety in order to
10 well, and the greater il is the better
they will thrive, even if the nutritious
qualities are inferior. Sheep are called
ndiscriminate feeders for this reason in
iced, 1t has been asserted that the animal
would die if kept exclusively upon any
one article Of diet. ! NOW in the autumn
The brush and eoarsest herbage of nv
'"amps and pastures, which is stocked
or my sheep in winter TO pick over and
read INTO manure, and occasionally cut
rom my woods carload of pine boughs
'hch they greedily clean out of their
)Ilage, and see the benefit of it in their
Drng condition.
am happy to perceive in more than
ne communication the confirmation of
ne important truth in relation to the
rowth OF both wool and mutton. which
tbis-thal the more care and attention
the way Of food and shelter the great.
the profit.
AN OLD FLoCKMAsTER.
A few suggestions about the manage.
ent Of sheep.
BREEDING EWES.
These require good care, but it should
Judicious and according to natural
vs. They are often kept in too warm
d too close pens, and suffer materially
hea'ih and strength for want of pure
aud exercise. While they should, by
means, be protected from storms and
d winds, they should always in fair
aiher have an opportunity to move
'ut freely in the open air.
Another thing to be looked after is the
OF the pens, yards, gateways,
=, SO that the ewes shall not crowd
ough narrow spaces, and draw their
lies across the edges and corners of
rds, timbers, &c. The reasons for
caution will be obvious to any one
a moments consideration.
hFy should be generously and regu
y, but not over fed; just that change
iety, and quantity that will keep them
lie best possible health and strength.
v potatoes are injrrious unless fed in
small Quantities; and they should
be allowed to go without salt for some
and then fed freely with it just be-
dropping their lambs.
SHEARING.
think sheep should be sheared in the
tn Of May, and shear my own
out washing. | house them during
storms and nights for two or three
IS after shearng think my sheep
r less from cold when sheared early
they would from heat if allowed TO
their fieeces till the last of June
know from experience that sheep
ed the first of May will be in better
the lst of July, with the same
ng, than those that are not sheared
the middle or last of June.
ere is no difficulty in selling un-
ed WOOL as it has its regular marke.
and has sold for the past three
at from 20 to 40 cents per pound