The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-05-20

Letter frOIn an Ohio Co. W.. Val Far.
mer.
In order to the formation of a good
flock of sheep, it is, in the first place,
essential in the selection of your breed
ing ewes, to reject a under two years
old; also such as from age have defect
i've teeth. Tearling ewes which have
lambs the spring they become two
years old, usually make poor nurses,
in consequence of not having sufii-
cient supply of milk to give their lambs
fair and full physical development;
and all my observation goes to show
that lambs thus raised make u miSera-
BILE stock of sheep, and 1t is from the
same reason that old ewes should be
rejected as breeders, for they too are
deficient in the amount of nutriment
required for the sustenance of their
lambs. Most Sheep-raiSers are anxious
to raise all the lambs they can; hence
with a view to this end, they will breed
from the old and young. When this is
the case, l have invariably observed
that much trouble and ultimate disap-
pointment followed. Many lambs raised
from such sheep will dwindle and lie
IN August and September, and those
that survive the first winter, make at
best very defective stock.
1fthe object of the sheep-raiser is to
cultivate fine wool, he should select
bucks that are evenly fine all over, and
thick set, and as great length as can be
obtained consistent with compact fleece;
great length of staple and cOmpuctness
are not usually found together.
Two vigorous bucks, if we'll fed, will
answer for one hundred ewes. The
time for putting the bucks to the ewes
may vary according to the convenience
of the sheep-raiser. and the latitude of
their location. With conVeniences for
the protection of lambs, the middle of
April is suitable time for the lambs to
come. 1t is desirable to have the lambs
come as near together as possible.
With view to this end, the ewes
should be in high condition when the
bucks are put to them. In adjusting
the size of the flock to the pastures on
which they are to range, it must be
borne in mind that the smaller the
flock the better the lambs will do. Pas
ture lands should never be SO heavily
stocked as to have the grass shaved to
the bare ground. When there is gem
erous amount of feed left, the roots of
the grass are protected from the action
of the sun and frost.
In all sections of our country north
of latitude forty, nice, luxuriHnt blue
grass pastures can be had, and if pro-
contribute largely towards sustaining
sheep. Lambs should be wenned by
the middle of August. I have found a
clover field the best for this purpose;
with n little management they can be
made to eat oats, and nothing will
make them grow faster. A1uIl seusons
IL is more or less essential that sheep
should be classified, but indespensibIy
SO in the winter. Hay, which should
constitute the principal food for sheep,
ought to be cut from the last of June
up to the middle of July, and saved
with all possible care, avoiding both
rains aud dews, and stirred to degree
that it will not heat in the stack or
NOW, as the case may be. Lambs fed
with what good hay they will eat, to-
gether with one-half bushel of corn or
Il bushel of oats to the hundred, with
water convenient, will be sufficient to
keep them in good growing order. a
lack of convenient water is among the
greatest errors of sheep-raisers. The
most abundant supply OF food, as above
directed, together with shelter, is essen
tial to bring fine lambs at the age of
one year, and the same tender care is
necessary TO carry them through the
second winter to mature them to per-
feet stock. More sheep die from disease
by bad and insufficient food
and the want of shelter, the two first
years of their existence, than from all
other causes combined. When sheep
are properly divided, have an abun-
dant supply of suitable food and water,
and good shelter in winter, hospitals
and medicine chest can be dispensed
with.
Breeding ewes should be kept in good
condition at all times. The first induce
ment for this is the increased quantity
of wool over what they would have
with moderate keeping, and you may
a lamb to each eve, or nearly
so. My practice is to break up sod
ground for corn, the succeeding spring
SOW oats, followed by wheat crop;
a sufficient amount of timothy seed is
sown at the time the wheat is narrowed;
the following spring, about the Goth OF
April, l sow clover seed. By the above
course of farming have fresh meadow
every season; and it is a fact worthy of
especial notice, that new meadows do
not suffer from drouth like old ones. |
The farmer who makes 1t his principal
business to raise sheep, should make it |
a prime object to have an abundance
of good hay, that will supercede the me-
cessity of the sheep-killlng system of
feeding straw.
Some recommend cutting the hay
which is fed to sheep. This consider |
labor lost, inasmuch as the digestive
organs ofsheep are more complete than
in most animals. There is nothing
more important in sheepology, than in |
having them in high condition at theI
commencement of the winter. If your
sheep are poor the first of December,
they will be likely to remain so all win
ter, unless very great pains is taken to
improve their condition by high feeding.
IL
to raise than wethers, and the latter
more than ewes. Nice attention to
weaving and early feeding with grain
in the fall, together with abundant feed
ing through the winter, will overcome
the evils which they are liable to i'll
neglected.
Inot1ced recently in the Country Cen
tLeUlGtI, that information was asked OH
the subject of contining sheep to their
yards in the winter. This winter finish
ed up fifty years that l have kept sheep;
through all ofthis time it has been my
practice to allow the sheep to have
range of the pastures in pleasant wealth
er and from it think much benefit has
been derived in the economy of feed,
and health to the stock. The failure Of
others to see this matter in the light
that do, is perhaps owing to one of
the following reasons. Either their
pastures are not of the right kind, or
else not in a right condition. Blue
grass pastures afford desirable locations
for sheep; it not only pleases their pal
ate, but gives them substantial nutri-
ment. The effects of frost is very diff
ferent on blue grass to what it is on
other grasses; the injury is very slight;
were it not SO, the sheep would not be
so eager to eat it, and then would like
their usual amount of hay. nt-.