The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-07-16
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Sheep WalkM

In parts of Great Britain. vast tracts Of
land are found too poor or to3 rugged fol-
cultivation, and possess money value only
because they furnish good ranges for sheep
On the other hand, in the best cultivated
and most fertile portions of that country,
sheep play an important part in agriculture
So in TIE South, believe, we have no land:
too rich or too valuable to b. advantageously
used for sheeP-none that are by nature toe
poor. Say bynature, because every farmer
unfortunately can remember instances oil
miscalled " cultivation, the final result Of
which has been absolute barrenness.
Sheep are indiscriminate feeders, and
hardly any green thing comes amiss to
them. All the ordinary wild and cultivated
grasses, the greater number of weeds, young
bushes, shrubs, ETC., are eaten with avidity.
They are fonder than any s6ther stock of va
riety in their food, and sometimes show this
taste in unexpected ways. For instance, a
friend told me lately that his flock had exter-
minated from his lawn that annoying weed
the narrow-leaved dock Ny sheep are de-
voteesto young cookie burrs, and will never
let cS,Is head out" if they can get at it.
When fockeis changed from clean pas
tule to weedy one they are apt to eat all
the young weeds, before touching the grass
The Bermuda has always seemed to me
the most promising Of our Southern grasses
valuable alike for sheep and cattle; but,
OWING TO the fact that it does not grow
through the winter and remain green like
blue grass, it is valuable only for summer
grazing. speak of it as seen two hundred
miles south of MISUNDERSTANDING further
South it may live and keep fresh all the year.
The short, close turf it makes is exactly
what sheep like best. 1 may add that there
is nothing they like better than clover and
pea-vines, green or cured
The system of keeping sheep practiced at
the North and here, depending on a success
sion of inclosed pastures for them, take TO
be generally inapplicable at the South. The
etthemalene style has been well tried.
The plan of employing a shepherd to remain
with them day and night may answer where
things are done on large scale, but its ex-
pense and the nature of the country will
preclude its general adoption. Where the
sheep walk is uninClosed, if few acres can
be fenced off near the owners dwelling, for
folding them on at night, it will probably be
found the cheapest aud best plan. The fold
ing lot will become extremely rich in short
time, as sheep leave most of their manure
where they lie at night. They may be sailed
in or near it, so as to make them easier to
drive up. When the lot becomes dirty they
should be changed to new one, as it is filth,
rather than confinement, that Injuries sheep.
Plenty of bells on your sheep are desirable,
both to prevent loss by straying away, and
as protection against dogs. One to every
ten sheep is good proportion for a small
flock; one to every twenty for large one.
1t is scarcely necessary to mention that
by this method of folding you secure in
year large amount of valuable manure,
evenly spread-except, indeed, that it is apt
to be thickest on the highest points in the
field, just where most needed.
If possible. the folding lot should contain
Or be convenient to stream of pure water
1t is a mistake to suppose that sheep can do
we'll without water, and they are very parti-
,ular as to the quality and cleanliness both
IF their food and drink Indeed one great
attraction of sheep husbandry is that it COM
Dels cleanliness as requisite to success. The
lirty stables and pastures which cow or
hog will endure with resignation would soon
prove fatal to sheep.-C. BrOwn, IN South
2rn CultiUatOr.