The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-02-11
On Raising Sheep.

The increased attention which Is being CIV
en- to the raising Of sheep in this country re-
quires OF the agricultural press to furnish such
hints as from time to time may De deemed sui
table to their proper management.
A sheep master, in a prize essay delivered be-
fore an English agricultural society, says that
| altogether sheep can make living ON poorer
pasture than other animals yet they thrive bet
ter and more proftably when kept OH good
rich pasture. A high aud dry situation is
more suitable for them than a low or damp one,
let it be ever so rich. They should have access
to water at all seasons of the year. In winter
| they should be provided with comfortable
She'd open to the south and a yard or field to
| exercise themselves in as they cannot bear con-
| finement we'll.
| Feeding racks and troughs should be provi-
ded, and the racks so arranged that the hay
| seed &C., will not fall upon their wool and in
| jure it.
| Their food should consist of good clover or
| timothy hay and pea straw, and they will thrive
on the latter even though not very well thresil-
| ed.
! Dat and barley straw may be given OCCASION
| ly for change.
| A mixture of oats and peas should be given
| daily from one-half to bushel per day for -
makes fair allowance Roots should be Civ
ell daily especially towards spring, but should
| be fed sparingly to breeding ewes, unless they
are well fed aud sheltered, as weak lambs often
follow heavy feeding Of roots where insufficient
shelter is provided but after the lambs are
dropped they should be fed freely, as it induces
an abundant flow of milk. Before going to
grass in the spring the tag locks should be
| carefully removed-it saves considerable work
| and often saves the animal a great deal of in
| convenience.
Sheds should be provided With number OF
box stalls, which can be used as hospitals to
co.fne any weak or sick one in.
Shearina should be done as soon as the weather
will admit, and should be well done as it adds
greatly to the appearance of the sheep. Each
fleece should be carefully weighed and the prop
CT weight credited to each sheep, and those
which give the lightest weight should be fatten-
ed for the butcher as soon as possible. The
weight of fleece can thus be increased in short
time, and the profit will incr ,ase in proportion;
and the profit on flock given six ponds OF wool
may be doubled that of a flock giving only four
as in animals all give certain return to pay
expenses, and only what goas beyond that can
be called clear gain.
About shearing time lambs should be examn-
ed and they will be fout.d covered with ticks;
these should be destroyed at once. Miller's
preparation will destroy them in II short time,
and but little expense.
Any animal suspected during the year
should be examined. and means taken to effect
a cure as soon as possible.
During the rambling season, should the
weather be cold Or wet, the flock should be
carefully watched, ald any weak larnbs should
be attended to at once. A small dose OF wElis-
key has good effect in revivng their dropping
spirits. Another method is to place them in
warm water all except the heart, until they
get comfortably warm and revived, and then
rubbing them dry with cloth. This method
will seldom fail if they are taken while they
show any signs Of life. They should be kept
warm for Il considerable time after this warm
bath. q it makes them feel the cold very severe
".