The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-06-06
;Msht Earn.
PROFIT OF SHEEP HUsBANDRY.
From the American Farmer.

From the american Farmer.
We give below an abstract of let
ter from Mr. Henry c. Hallowell, of
Montgomery county, Nd, which was
read at a recent meeting of the State
Agricultural Society. The experience
which he gives is seconded by many,
even in this State, where sheep-raising
can scarcely be said to be part of our
agricultural system Only few weeks
ago a young farmer of Queen Anne's
told us, as an illustration of the profit
in them, that at that time he already
had 81 lambs from 10 ewes, and all
doing finely -
"There is scarcely farm upon which
a flock of sheep could not be raised, of
larger or smaller size, and the profits
derived therefrom would go very far
towards paying our taxes. The benef-
cial effect upon the land is we'll under
stood.
To show what may be done in this
respect, l give herewith an extract from
the letter of reliable and intelligent
gentleman in New Jersey, detailing his
success with single flock. 1t is true
that his proximity to large city gives
him superior advantages, but we can
approximate to his results. l myself
have repeatedly purchased focks in the
Fall for from $50 to $50, and have sold
in the following Spring nearly 500
worth of lambs and wool, having the
flock left in good condition. My rule is
to bring up the sheep into tight yard
every night. This does not injure them,
even in the most sultry weather, as
they are creatures of habit, and imme-
diately lie down and ruminate, and are
then ready to 60 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
quarter Southdown buck runs with
them, and the 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
a good shelter, not too close, the lambs
will do well, and after they are few
weeks old there should be place for
feeding them separate from the sheep
They 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 only be induced
to ascertain 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 of a letter Of a Ne,o jersey farmer
AS to sheep, 1 will cite an instance
from my own experience. Year before
last l purchased 100 head of sheep at
the Philadelphia Drove Yards for $3.50,
mostly ewes. They had evidently been
very badly cared for by some one, as
they were very poor indeed. gave
them an excellent chance on grass dur
ing the Summer and Fall Before feed
ing time l sold 40 of them for $l76,
reserving sixty of the best, all ewes,
which had been running with full
blooded Southdown buck. They COM
menced to lamb about the latter part
of January, and were all in by the first
of March, and there were altogether
eighty four lambs. 1 began marketing
them toward the latter part of March,
at 50 per head for the first 80, and So
per head for the rest l sold from this
lot of 60 ewes and "a lambs $l,0O3
worth, and had ii ewes and choice
lambs left A number of these lambs
went into market at seven weeks old
for 50 each. The lightest eve weighed
1902 pounds, and the heaviest 165 lbs
l take to myself the credit of bringing
the sheep to such satisfactory condi-
ton, but attribute no inconsiderable
part of the success with the lambs to
the Southdown buck
We see from the foregoing that this
careful and successful farmer paid $3.50
for a flock of 100 sheep, sold $1,179
worth, and still had lambs left. OF
course, he gave close and judicious at
tention to his business; but did it not
pay? His figures speak for him. We
of Montgomery cannot expect to equal
him, not having a great city near US,
but his letter shows that there is
handsome profit in the careful handling
of sheep. Wooden mills should be busy
upon many streams of our county. l
hope the subject will be further discuss
ed in your columns by ADLER and more
experienced farmers than myself.
HENpy q HAJIowrrJ