Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-03-20
AGRICULTURAL.
A Few Hints on the General Management OF
sheep.

A rev Hlnts on The Generai Mahascmchi VI
sheep.
One of the most common evils in the care
of sheep, except among the more practical
flock masters, is the rough manner in which
the sheep are permitted to be handled by
the help. Where only few are kept, and
the children are allowed to have an interest
in them. little care will obviate this. An
other vicious practice is attempting to drive
sheep with cur dog, which is a nuisance
that should never be tolerated Have only
the gentlcst Of collies or none; an untrain-
ell dog among sheep is only grade better
than Il wolf
Cultivnte the temper and affection OF
sheep - that degree that they will allow
you to approach them and catch them at
any time. You will find that it pays always
to have vour nock under this subsection. If
your sheep fly from you at your approach,
and inpip over any obstacle that may be in
their way in their frantic efforts to escape,
make up your mind that YOU are not calcu-
lated for keeping sheep and sell the flock at
the first opportunity.
For extra early lambs. if you have thor
oughly warm place for lambing. the ewes
should be put to the ram about the first OF
October. They will then drop their lambs
about February first, since the average pc
Rod of CESSATION of the eve is about l52
days. Lambs for killing young should not
be dropped later than the first of March.
which is about the time for all of them to
come except few for extra early lambs
The better class of hotels Is always eager to
obtain these very early lambs at fancy prices.
if they be really prime.
Thus few of the ewes having been tup-
ped early in September, let the balance be
served during the latter days of September
and the first days of October. When breed
ing for mutton it is better TO provide pro-
per place FOR lambing, and have even the
lambs intended for ripe mutton come as
early a. March, since they stand the winter
much better than later ones. From the
time the rut.ing season is over, the ewes
being with young, they should be well cared
for and provided with warm barn if the
basement Of a hank barn 50 much the bet
ter This should lie at all times kept well
Uttered. and the yard also should be care
fully attended TO in this respect. Feed
plent, OF sweet hay and little grain every
day, aud ~alt regularly ; in fact let them
have access to salt at all times. Then they
will take only Just what thay need. If ap-
piles are plenty. or il you raise beets, car
rotS. tsrnjps OF parsrips, You may feed
about quart of these each day per sheep
with profit.
Sftcp also relish cat straw if bright and
clean the leaves of corn fodder are also
CO gorly sought after by them. All these
should Zee supplied if possible, for sheep
Ike q change in their food and seem to rel
i>h II more strongly than any other farm
stock Care should be taken in feeding
grain rot to feed too strongly at first, and,
'aying commenced, not to intormit the feed.
Better be.in low and increase the feed of
grain rs the winter progresses.
When the eve i within three or four
weeks Of Landing we should always feed
oats If possible. 1t strengthens the animal
wonderfully to undergo the labor that is
soon 20 come and sustain the tax on her sys-
TEN during parturition. If grain has been
fed regularly no fear need be felt of milan
matory action. If roots have been previous
ly fed do not intermit them, but add the
oats in the place Of the corn that it is sup
posed has been previously fed. This being
observed and due care having been taken
against frightening them As previously sug-
geSted. no fears need be entertained but that
the flock will winter all right, and come out
strong with their lambs in the spring -
Rural Mar Yorker.