Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-06-11
Sheen Raising.

Mr.. Reeder thinks that, generally,
sheep-raising is not profitable in Eastern
| Pennsylvania. This is due, however, as In
other pursuits and in OF er branches of farm
| ing, to failure to practice the best modes.
| He says truly, that if it cannot be made
| profitable there, within easy reach of New
York and Phladelphia, it cannot be made
profitable anywhere. But to make it 80 he
advises keeping only such breeds as will do
t n both wool and mutton. Early lambs are
IN important item. MIR. Reeder takes strong
sound, grade Merino ewes, and serves them
Immediately after harvest with a thorough
| bred South-Down ram-One ram, it a lamb,
| to twenty-five ewes, or fifty ewes to year
ing ram. The lambs are then dropped from
Detembe 18th to January 18th, and if well
cared for, and supplied with cornmeal as
soon as they will eat it, by the time they
are three months old they will weigh from
'orty to forty five pounds, and sell for twenty
FIVE cents per pound, live weight, bringing
tor each $40 or Sll. Though this may APP
pear large price, he says it is no exaggera-
ion, and it seldom goes below eighteen or
tive ,ty cents in New York before June lst,
and that even then 50 h ad can be counted
IN. The ewes will soon fatten alter parting
with the lambs, and usually will sell for a
dollar or two above their first cost. This
leaves the fleece and the manure to pay for
the cost OF keeping, while the lambs are
clear profit. frequently the average OF lambs
sold will be one To each eve.
MIR. Reeder then proceeds to compare
the profits of sheep and dairy husbandry.
fhe true contrast must be based on weight,
not on tile number of animals OF each. Thus
IN average COW he suppOses to weigh nine
hundred pounds, and her cost for keeping
Will equal that of SIX sheep of one hundred
and frty pounds each, or nine sheep OF one
hundred pounds. So when guessing farmers
ak of one cow being equal to so many
sheep, no reliance can be placed upon their
estimates unless weights are given. FROM
he best estimates Mt hand-one from men,
bers of the Salisbury Farmers Club-he as
sumes that the average COW will give one
hundred and fifty pounds of butter per an
mum ami raise calf worth ST.. The but
ter, based on Philadelphia prices IN 1872, be
rates at thlrty-hye cents per pound total
1ross amount for butter and cali, S64 so.
~ to how much of this is profit, he takes
f lures furnished by members OF the Soles
curry Club again, which are twenty-seveD
cents per pound for cost-only eight cen is
tOr profit, or Sl2 on the one hundred and
Ii ty pounds and SD on the call; total profit
for cow only $34. Six sheep, at only 81
each, will equal this, while he thinks it not
i tficult to realize So or SO per head, thus
showing the advantage is largely on the side
Of sheep over that of dairy husbandry.
50 Then as to manure and the labor neces-
sary to be employed, the advantage in each
case is with sheep. The labor in dairy farm
ing is it's greatest drawback. But be does
DOT advise everybody to rush at once into
sheep farming. Use caution; start with
lew ard avoid extremes. A few, we'll cared
OF. will be profitable on nearly every farm.
Sheep will eat some things which cattle re-
ject, and be useful in destroying weeds.
" Mr.. Reeder has kept sheep nineteen years.
During the last seven years he kept the thor
Ju.' bred South-Downs, carefully selected
rom the best focks in the country, and his
lambs have averaged $40 each, with 81
1ead for the wool from each sheep. The dill
'erence between keeping one COW per acre.
OF one cow and one sheep, is not noticeable,
As to injurious effects resulting from sheep
and cows running together, he never observed
any. But sheep are easier satisfied with
pasturage than cows. The latter continually
seek and long for fresh fields and pastures
new ito put it poetically,) while sheep are
conservative and are satisfied with an old
pasture as long as it affords fair subslst-
ence. "-COuntry Gentlemen.