Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-05-27
2fericalfalral Department
I. D. r. COLLINS, Editor.
OF SHEEP,

the pasture This instinct should be re-
pressed till the ground has become thor
oughly dry, and the grass has acquired
substance. They ought to be provided
with a change of food by the daily use
of roots for a few days before turning
out. The tendency to excessive purg-
ing which is induced by the spring feed,
may be checked by housing them at
night and feeding them for the first few
days with little sound, sweet hay.
They must be provided with pure water
and salt; for though they may do toll
erably well without either, yet thrift and
a freedom from disease are cheaply Sc
cured by this slight attention.
AS to water, it may be said that it is
not indispensable in the summer pas
lures, since the dews and succulence of
the feed answers as substitute but
wide experience having demonstrated
that free access is advantageous, particu-
larly to those having lambs, it should
be considered matter of Importance ON
a sheep farm so as to arrange the pas
ture, if possible as to bring water into
each of them.
Salt is indispensable to health espec-
tally in summer 1t is common to give
it once week, while they are at grass.
1t is better to give them free access to
it, at all times, by keeping it in COW
cred box, open on one side. A large
hollow log with holes cut along the
side for the insertion of the heads of the
animals, answers just as WELL sheep
having free access to salt at all times,
will never eat too much of it; and it
will take its supply at such times and
in such quantities as nature demands,
instead of eating it voraciously at stat
ed periods, as intermediate abstinence
will stimulate it to do. When salt is
fed but once week, it is better to have
stated day, so that it will not be for
gotten and it is well to lay the salt on
fiat stones-th though if laid in little hand
fuls on the grass, very little of it will
be lost
Dry, sweet pastures, and such as
abound in aromatic and bitter plants,
are best suited for sheep walks. No an
imal with the exception. of the goat.
crops such variety of plants. They
eat many which are rejected by the
horse and the OK, which are even essen
tial to their own wants. In this respect
they are valuable assistants to the hus-
bandman, as they feed greedily on wild
mustard, burdock, thistles, marsh-mel-
lows, milk-weed, and various offending
plants and the Merino exceeds the
more recent breeds in the range of his
selections
: In pastures, however, where the dry
5 stalks of the burdock, or the hound
tongue, or tory-weed have remained
/ over the winter, the burrs are caught il
the long wool, and, if they are numer
l Gus, the wool is rendered entirely un.
: marketable and almost valueless. Ever
the prickles of the common and Canada
| thistles, where they are very numerous
r get into the neck-wool of the sheep a.
: they thrust their heads under and among
them to crop the first scarce feed of The
e northern spring; and, independently o
:. injuring the wool, they make it Difficult
e to wash and otherwise handle the sheep
r Indeed, it is matter of the soundes
, policy to keep sheep on the cleanest pas
t lures, those free from these and simila
4 plants and in region where they ar
+ pastured the year round, they should b.
), kept from contact with them for SOM
It months prior to shearing.
d To give the sheep sufficient variety, i
S is better to divide their range into sew
eral smaller ones, and change them a
e often, at least, as once week. The
IS seek favorite resting place, on dry
: elevated part of the field, which soon be
It comes soiled. By removing them fror
'e this for few days, rain will cleanse 0
t, the sun dry it. so as to make it agai
If suitable for them. More sheep may b
lie kept, and in better condition, where thi
a, practice is adopted, than where they al
to confined to the same pasture.
k No one who has observed with whs
l. eagerness sheep seek shade in hot weatl
re er, and how they pant and APPARENT
suffer when hot sun is pouring dow
he upon their nearly naked bodies, wi
ID doubt that, but as matter of humanit
n and utility, they should be provide
w during the hot summer months, with
to common rail fence-Amcrican iStot
re Journal
of =
A DISCUSSED FARMER POLITICIAN
- 1t is a deplorable thing that polite
: which should be high and noble worl
! is so degraded by those who professedl
:, engage in it, in their disgusting scran
- bles for place and preferment, and IL
- paltry pelf of Office, that few either
- who have modesty and self-respect CO
: mingle in it; but so it is. A farm
:, who has dabbled in it, and become sic
- ened says: