Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-05-13

~, II also very nOutlSnt1S. nav
eggs in their meal fatten calves rap
idly, if this is considered desirable.
They will soon learn to feed themsel-
YES upon the tender grass, and later
i'll the season large number can
be fed from cut fodder, technically
called "soiling." A moderate range,
where they can have water when de-
sired, and "a low shed for shelter from
the wet and col are Indispensable,
but easily provided. Let no. man,
however, undertake the raising OF
calves as business, who is Of the
opinion that young cattle are made
hardy by being half fed, aud exposed
to the inclcmencies Of all weathers.
No animal can thrive unless it is
comfortable, and that none can be,
exposed to long rains, or to wind
and snow and sleet of the north side
Ola barn, or in bleak fields around q
hay stack.
The entire milk of one or more
cows had best be given to the flock
of calves, whilst quite young, mixed
with porridge and hay tea; Of course
increasing their. allowance as they
grow. \ ter three weeks old most
of the cream may be taken from the
the milk, and they will soon like
butierInilk and sour milk quite as
well, as these are equally as good for
them. 1t pays well to give the
calves skinned milk all simmer, and
butiermilk is particularly nourishing.
Give, then, the buttcrmilk, skinned
milk and whey from cheese making
to the clean, sweet wholesome calves,
rather than to the nolsome pigs,
which usually poison the atmosphere
AL around the cheese tactorics.-
Contributed to tile Practical Farmer.
Jhc Successful Sheep Grower.
E. A. Brown, living near Scion,
was in our office last week and gave
us some account OF his success with
sheep. Mr.. Brown is well known to
be one of the most successful and
wealthy farmers in this county, and
he says al! his success in due to sheep,
He could get no start at all until lie
went into the sheep business twenty
years ago, when he obtained the
flock which he has continued until
the present time, only changing
bucks every two years. During all
this time, although he has kept a
very large flock he has never had
any scab, toot-rot or any other disease,
and don't believe any one need have
with healthy sheep properly cared
for and kept from diseased animals.
The diseases in sheep have all been
brought here from abroad and been
allowed to spread among our other.
wise healthy tlocks. Mr.. Brown has
sold wool at all sorts Of prices, much
of the time at 80 to 40 cents and
from that to Sl.OO but low prices
have not disturbed him. He has
kept right or. He has made NOR ey
at low prices, but more at the higher
ones. One year he lost almost his
entire clip, by trusting it to another
to sell for him, from whom he never
received the proceeds. This gave
him bad setback, but he kept on
and came out again all right. lie
now has about 1900 sheep, having
recently sold 200 tat welhers at a
good price. His sheep are now his
main reliance, and he does not seem
down in the mouth at all at present
prices. He can not make money as
fast as when prices were higher, but
he can make money still, and much
faster than he could at wheat grow
ing, while he is not robbing his soil
OF its life and vigor, bu: keeping it
IN to its original fertility.
The value of this influence upon
the soil is not properly estimated.
Suppose farmer by twenty years
OF wheat growing upon his farm has
accumulated as much as has Mr. Brown
from his sheep. as no one has or
began to, he does not stand anywhere
near Mr.. Brown III his actual profit,
for the farm of the latter is now worth
thousands of dollars more than that
Of the former.
1t was really refreshing to us to
meet farmer who seemed satisfied
with his sheep growing, regarding it
as still profitable branch of farming
with no desire or intent to give it up.
The great drawback Mr.. Brown has
to contend with is dogs. He says
he estimated 10 per cent. per annum
off for them, and as they are increas.
ing in the country he much fears they
viii compel the abandonment of the
sheep husbandry. This is a hard
case. The thousands of worthless
whelps are of no possible use, and
must be tolerated, to the destruction
of one Of the most noble and prof.
table branches of industry. Nr.
Brown dares not trust his flock over
night out of his yard, inclosed with
picket fence at any season of the
year. If he ventures it he is almost
certain to find several sheep killed or
horribly mangled the next morning.
This is a great trouble and expense,
and such yarding an injury to the
sheep. II would be far better for