The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-03-13
The Profits of Sheen. Raising.

Mr.. Henry G. Hallowell, well-known
farmer of Montgomery county, Md, writes
as follows to the Rockville Sentinel His
remarks as to the adaptation of Montgome-
ry county to sheep raising are equally ap,
plicable to Hartford. He says:
Montgomery county is 80 particularly
adapted to sheep husbandry that earnest.
ly desire to draw the attention Of nv fell
low farmers to the subject. There is scarce
ly farm in the county upon which flock
of sheep could not be raised, of larger or
smaller size, and the profits derived there
from would go very far towardr paving eur
taxes The beneficial effect upon the land
is we'll understood.
To show what may be done in this re-
spect, give herewith an extract from the
letter ola reliable and intelligent gentleman
in New Jersey, detailing his success with
a single flock. 1t is true that his proximity
to large city gives him superior advanta-
ges, but we can approximate to his results.
myself have repeatedly purchased fiocks in
the Fall for from $50 to $50, and have sold
in the following Spring nearly 800 worth
OF lambs and wool. having the flock left in
good condition My rule is to bring up the
sheep into tight yard ecsry night This
does not injure them, even in the most sui
try weather, as they are creatures of habit.
and Immediately lie down and ruminate.
and are then ready to go to feeding as soon
as let out very early in the morning. By
having the yard fence high and strong they
are secure from dogs. A three-quarterT
Southdown buck runs with them, and thel
lambs come in from the last of January to
the middle of March. Last year my early
lambs brought me five dollars each, some
| of them not much over two months old
BY having good shelter, not too close, the
lambs will do well, and after they are a
| few weeks old there should he a place for
feeding them separate from the sheep. Thew
will thus improve very rapidly, and soon
be marketable. A pen made of pine poles
across the sheep yard, accessible to the
lambs and not to the sheep, will answer the
purpose.
If our farmers can once DC induced to as
certain the value of sheep, we will not be
long In procuring proper law for their
protection, as we are very apt to become
earnest about whatever touches our finances.
Extract from letter Of a Neo Jersey Farmer:
Gas to sheep, will cite an instance from
my own experience. Year before last | pur-
chased 100 head of sheep at the Philadel-
phia Drove Yards for $3.50, mostly ewes.
They had evidently been very badly cared
for by some one, as they were very poor in
deed. gave them an excellent chance OH
grass during the Summer and Fall. Before
feeding time l sold 40 of them for $i76, re-
serving 60 Of the best, all ewes, which had
been running with full-blooded South
down buck. They commenced to lamb
about the latter part of January, and were
all in by the first of March, and there were
altogether "a lambs began marketing
them toward the latter part of March, at
30 per head for the first 80, and $s per head
for the rest. | sold from this lot of go ewes
and 81 lambs $1,003 worth, and EId IL
ewes and choice lambs left. A number
of these lambs went into market at seven
weeks old for 80 each. The lightest eve
weighed 102 lbs, and the heaviest 1855 lbs.
l take to myself the credit of bringing the
sheep to such satisfactory condition, but
attribute no inconsiderable par of the sue
cess with the lambs to the Southdown
buck"
We see from the foregoing that this care
full and successful farmer paid $3.50 for n
flock of 100 sheep, sold $1,179 worth, and
still had II ewes and 3 lambs left. OF
course he gave close and judicious atten.
tion to his business; but did it not paw 2
His figures speak for him.