Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-21

most as barren as the hills themselves, but by
cultivation have been rendered exceedingly fer
Tile, to effect which the sheep have rendered con
siderable aid pastured upon the hills by day, and
folded upon the arabic lands by night, which
they enriched with their manure, nd received
a recompense in artificial food raised for that
purpose, such as rye, grass, tares clover and
rape and in spring frequently turned upon the
young rye in winter they are fed with good
| supply OF turnips. Thus, while they have aided
| In changing the character OF their feed, that
Iced has aided in changing their character and
| he character OF their fleece"
The slbjoined statement, by T. b. Buhum,
ESQ.,, of Newport, h. t., we copy from the
Transactions of the New England Agrcultu
raj Society
i" Having kept Southdown sheep for the last
twelve years, | make, by request, some state
nents in regard to them that may not perhaps,
be altogether uninteresting to those who are
not yet fully acquainted with the breed. Their
beauty Of form, strong constitution, and general
freedom from disease, their aptitude TO fatten
| ga lily and make superior mutton, the fair quail
lty Of wool, comparatively free from gum and
profitable for the manufacturer, having been 80
FULLY and frequently noticed in patent Office re-
ports and in various other ways 50 fully brought
before the public, that | need not dwell on these
points, ! will simply say that am not one Of
those who believe that the breeds Of mutton
sheep must, Of necessity, degenerate in New
England, think, 30 far as 1t relates to the
breed in question, can furnish prac tical illus
Tati0n, that with tolerable care and manage
nent, they find on our soil, and in our climate,
congenal home. have sometimes thought
that animals Of medium size are more adapted
to our soil and feed than the larger breeds, and
this being the class TO which the Southdowns
belong, they are on this account, think, well
suited TO our wants. They will frequently come
much nearer to the weight Of the larger breeds
than one not used to them would suppose |
have frequently sold buck lambs, six or seven
months old, weighing about one hundred pounds,
sometimes more. | have usually kept from SIX
ty to eighty ewes in one flock, and they have
done well, though they offer no exception to the
general rule that small hJcks do better than
large. have only changed my flock by raising
lambs, sin e commenced, and can show much
better flock now than at first. ! have paid a
generous price Tor bucks that pleased me usual
ly every second year, to avoid breeding in a.
much US possible. used to think twenty-five
dollars large price to pay for a ram have
since given one hundred and fifty dollars, and
think the money pretty well used My ewes
are generally las every au tumn upon ordinary
grass feed, but as the fOddering season commences
feed lightly with grain and lightly with hay,
turning them out every day. | am not sure
that this is better than keeping them in the
yard and feeding altogether with hay, but |
have thought it was cheaper for me. AS the
Landing season approaches, | like TO feed pretty
well, giving roots IN moderate quantity, ard at
tor the lambs are dropped, feed freely with oats
and beete, or carros shorts would probably DO
good, but ain cautious Of feeding corn to uurs
ing ewes and think it is only safe in moderate
quantity You can, with proper care, usually
raise from fifty ewes, seven y five lambs, and IL
is good plan, ii the lambs are dropped early,
(say in March or ApriD to have number Of
small pens IN readiness Tor those sheep that have
twins and put them into the pens Immediately,
in order that the eve may lick both lambs, and
have them near her until they are strong.
have observed that after the eve has licked her
lamb the bond of union seems to be perfect, and
she can select her one among thousand
Therefore, when she has twins, see that she has
both lambs near her, and all il right. The
SOuthdowns are excellent nurses and seldom fail
to own their lambs, but the LANDING season is
one requiring the attention Of the farmer and
it pays to devote large part of one man's time
to a lair sized Hook when weaving has com
Inenced. No animal PAYS better for good care
and treatment than tbesheep, and he who would
succeed in the business must learn to take a
pleasure, laudable pride, in bis flock one OF
the most interesting sights on farm is lot of
sheep and lambs in good condition. -Neto Eng
land Farmer.