Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-08-08


to satisfy myself which was best Some ten
years since commenced feeding the hay on
a small farm exclusively to sheep. This lot
was in fair condition, yielding about one ton
per acre. let the sheep have the stable.
Spread the manure on the grass, going over
one-half Of it each year The grass contin-
ued to increase until it yielded not less than
three tons to the acre. The manure from
this yield gave it heavy dressing. For a
year or two the grass has not been as heavy
the ground appears to be burnt with manure.
Last spring plowed part Of Il, to re-seed,
and sowed II with wheat. II grew very
rank, but the weeds grew ranker,--such
weeds as grow on very rich ground This
land had been dressed with clean manure
from the stable, and the grass had been free
from weeds. There had been no manure PIT
on previous to plowing, and none since.
That such weeds should grow on a sward
well turned shows the ground to be very
rich.
No part of this field has been plowed for
eighteen years; and yet part Of it which
is rather moist continues to bear very heavy
grass. One would suppose by the way some
farmers manage their sheep that it would
ruin their mowings if they should cross them.
So they are left IN the yard in the spring
only until tho ground is bare, and they can
possibly live without feeding; they are then
turned into the pasture to shirk for them
selves, whether wet or dry, This should
not be so. A sudden change from dry to
green feed is very injurious. AS soon as
the ground is bare they should be let oat a
few hours every pleasant day, SO as to be-
come gradually accustomed to green feed.
To try tho effect of sheep on my moving
land, l took a lot of about twenty acres of
pretty dry ground that had not been plowed
for some fifteen years but had been occasion
ally top-dressed, turning them in as soon as
the grass started after getting the hay off,
and feeding it quite close. In the spring 1
turn them in pleasant days until they can go
to pasture. This l have done but few
years. The grass has improved both in
quality and quantity every year since thus
managed. While cutting the grass the past
season, the hay-makers said they should
think there had been heavy top.dressing of
ashes applied, THE white clover was 50 abuud-
ant. am now satisfied by my own expert
ence that these sheep are as much before
cows to keep up the moving, as they are in
the pasture To do this, we must have
sheep that will stay where you put them,
and that can be easily handled. | can han
die my sheep as can my cows. l can go
myself alone and drive any one of my full
blood sheep to any part Of the farm.
do not have to get up my sheep at yean'
ing time, but with small boy 60 into pas.
ture of seventy-6ve acres and separate the
lambs from their mothers and drive them
half n mile to the house. | would not ad
wise any farmer to have anything to do will
these sheep unless he can take proper care o
) them. If he lets them shirk for themselve
from the time they can find a bare spot ii
the spring till they cannot find one in the fall
or as long as they can live, he had bette
keep nothing but the poorest scrubs, as they
will take to the woods for shelter and tax
care of themselves, which these sheep will
e not do In raising flock of cotswod sheeI
it is as with many other things,-the neglec
of seemingly small things often causes seri
Gus consequences To show the importanc
D Of being careful, | will just mention cir
' cumstance: Last fall some of my sbee
were frightened so that they ran some fft
rods one large fat lamb dropped dead
They should never be frightened, nor drive
faster than walk. The FIRST few years G
my keeping sheep | Lost many by disease
u but for the last five years l have not lot
over two per cent by disease. | occasional
y ly lose one by accident, occasionally fin
% one dead in the pasture without finding
n cause. For number of years, they hav
e not averaged one death year in the sprinI
when sheep are the most liable to die of d
d ease. In writing this paper have endea'
ID ored to give plain statement Of my ow
q experience with my sheep. But hold it
q, be the duty of every farmer to try to exc
re in everything he undertakes. If he do
p; not make this effort there is danger of gOir
III down hill, for in farming there is no SUE
" thing as standing still. Some have said
re me, "If should get some of your sheep,
IS could not get the prices you do for them
W Now there may be something peculiar
Sc the soil of the town Of Elmore; thin
he it must be admitted there is. 1t was in d
el soil of this town that the seed Of the l.
D. moille County Agricultural Society was fiji
he sown. 1t took but four years for it to OF
or grow the place. 1t was moved to the cent
IT. of the county that the good seed there SOY
is might be felt throughout the country.
ay was in this same town OF Elmore, which
ng FIRST settled by the heroes Of the Revolutic
Die that the three sheep were put which at
time seemed Of but little consequence, b
We have since grown to compete successful
We with the best imported sheep from Englar
ito The town Of Elmore holds the same positi
ne compared with the rest of the towns of
be county that Vermont does with the 9th
re states of New England, and that New /
sv gland does with the other states Of the I
YER ion.
W.
On. 1AAnernl Anrtrnltnre