Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-02-13
Value Of Sheep to the Farm.

At a late meeting of the Central n
Y. Farmers Club, this question was
discussed thoroughly; a full report be-
ing given in the Utica Herald of Dec.
3Oth.
0. B. Gridley SAID that the adyant-
ages of keeping sheep are many, be-
sides the value of the wool and the in
crease. They distribute their manure
more evenly over the pastures than any
other stock. They also give better
sward, not merely in the manuring.-
They cause the grass roots to tiller
and spread, if the pastures are not over
fed, as is too often the case. In Eng
land, farmers think that there is no
stock that will so much improve their
pastures as sheep. Mr.. Gridley keeps
Leicester sheep, and estimates that six
sheep will eat as much as an average
COW. His average yearly profit per
head is $40. He thus evidently finds
sheep more profitable than dairy cows,
getting as much money returns at an
outlay of much less labor.
Hon. Harris Lewis said that it takes
of hay two per cent. of the live weight
of a COW to preserve her in life with
out any increase in weight. Thus a
cow weighing 1000 lbs. would require
daily ration Of 20 lbs. good hay for
her support.
Mr.. Bonfoy had found the same rule
to hold in the case of sheep.
j. V. H. Scoville said he commence
ed ten years ago with flock of medi-
um-wooled sheep, breeding them to
good Merino rams, but found from ex-
perience that We cannot successfully
compete with west and south in the
production Of wool alone. The aim of
the breeder here should be the produc-
ton of mutton, wool being the secon-
Diary consideration. He beloved it we'll
for majority of our farmers to keep a
few sheep in connection with the dali
ry. He now prefers Leicester, and
keeps them. He, finds it necessary to
keep few sheep in order to keep ur
the fertility of the farm. He referred
to. the statement that "sheep are the
sheet-anchor of English agriculture
as eminently true everywhere. The
manure of sheep is more valuable thar
that of cattle or horses, as they chew
their food finer. "Alderman Mechi es
Inmates that 1900 sheep folded on az
acre for twenty-four hours, or 100 sheer
for fifteen days, would manure the lane
sufficiently for four years rotation. y
Also, M. Theirs is quoted as saying
that s'the agricultural industry O
France cannot dispense with sheep
A Wisconsin farmer, who keeps 500
sheep raises 8 or 10 bushels Of whea
per acre more than his neighbors who
do not keep sheep. Mr.. Scoville shows
that since the attention of farmers has
been given to dairying exclusively, in
stead Of mixed farming as formerly
the value of our pastures-estimateC
from the quantity of food yielded-has
been steadily depreciating. He though1
that the STUNT and other products Of
the washing Of wool, should be carried
back to the soil instead of being, al
now, suffered to be washed into thu
streams flowing near our large facto
ries.
Mr.. Bonfoy said that the best of oul
sheep breeders keep their focks under
sheds in the winter, thus saving the
manure from being washed, as is thu
ease with manure in yards where dair
les are kept. Nearly all the cow ma
nure made is thrown out of the stable
into heaps under the caves of the barns
where it is washed all winter anC
spring. ~ =,
He asked whether sheep or CATTLE
would be the most profitable, if onl.
one kind is kept. The answers showed
majority in favor of keeping sheep
But it is necessary to keep one breed
never cross-breeding or mixing.