The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-08-18
Aaritnltntal.
Something About Sheep.

There are several breeds of sheep, the
best being the South Downs and Cots
wolds, which are generally SOLD to the
butcher for mutton and lamb, and the Me-
rino which furnishes 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, are
thought well of still, but the Cotswolds
and the Downs have, to considerable
extent, taken their place in localities where
sheep are raised for the butcher.
In the vicinity of large markets, and
where pasturage is expensive, it will be
found to be most profitable to raise sheep
for the market, only making wool Sec
ondary object. But in remote and noun
famous regions, where land is cheap and
not suited to cultivation, they may be pro-
fitably kept for wool. Many, however,
think that even for wool, the larger breeds
may be equally profitable, on account of
the greater weight of their long and coarse
wool, which is we'll suited for many kinds
of fabrics, and commands good price in
the market.
Mutton of choice quality usually brings
higher price in the market than beef,
though it costs much less per pound to
produce, and the ofal or waste is less. The
objection to keeping the smaller breeds
or the old natives, based on the expense
of fences, does not apply so strongly to
the larger or mutton breeds, like the Cot
swolds, 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 we'll protec-
ted, than when exposed. Good ventila-
ton is also very important, hence it is
best to give them sheds open to the
south.
To ascertain the difference in the cost
and gain of proper shelter, and exposure
to the weather, for sheep, in the mildcr
climate of England, twenty were kept in
an open field, and twenty others of nearly
equal weights were kept under comfort
able shed. They were fed alike for three
winter months, each having halfpound Of
linseed cake, half-pint of barley, and lit
tie hay and salt per day and as many tur-
nips as they would eat. The sheep in the
field ate all the barley and oil cake, and
about sixteen pounds of turnips each per
day, as long as the trial lasted, and in
creased in all FIVE hundred and twelve lbs.
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 turnips per day. AMI in the ninth week,
two pounds less again, or only fifteen lbs.
per day. Of the linseed cake they also
ate about one-third less than the other lot,
and yet increased in weight seven hum
dred and ninety pounds, or two hundred
and seventy-eight pounds more than the
others. .-
Ten fine wooded Merno sheep will
eat about as much as a medium-sized
COW. The larger sheep consume more.
The Merinos yield the best wool, and
the Cotswolds the most wool and mutton,
and the South Downs mutton of the best
quality.
1t will be found useful to attach bells
to several of the flock. By this means
dogs may often be prevented from attack
ing them, and if the sheep are molested a
warning is given. This is also protec-
ton against ioxes-JManual of .agricul-
ture 'h ~"