Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-01-11
agricultural,
sheep Raising.

The soil and climate Of Maine sre al
mirabiy adapted to sheep raising. While
manytarms are 70 rockyrough and difficult
Of cultivation that the raiSingof crops Is
attended with an amount Of labor which
leaves hut little profit from the price OBJ
tanned for them all. will produce excellent
grass. No Sweeter nor more nutritlve
grass can be found in New England than
in this State; and the hay crop is one Of
immense quantity and value. The re-
suit Of cutting and selling. as many farm
ers DO, wear after year, tons Of valuable
grass from the fields, without returning an
equivalent IN the shape Of manure, i the
gradual deterioration which can only be
checked by the practice OF feeding the
crops to animals upon the farms, and re-
turning TO the ground the manure which
Is thereby produced Many farmers
think il does not pay TO raise cattle in this
locality, claiming animals can DC bought
when grown for less money than it costs
to raise them here but there can be no
question that there is a good profit IN
rearing sheep, even in the hap-hazArd
manner in which it is too often done
In England where a dense population
on a small area Of cultivated land renders
it imperatiyely necessary that the soil
shall be made 10 produce all that 1t Is
capable Of, 1t l. not considered possible 10
maintain the fertility Of farms without
the aid Of sheep husbandry. The ferti-
Izing effect produced upon worn out and
unfertile land by feeding sheep upon it is
astonishing. and when We remember that
the animals return the breeder a good
profit upon the care and expense Of keep
ing them. BY the wool and lambs which
they furnish, it Is to be wondered that
sheep are not kept in larger numbers and
made a more prominent part Of the farm
stock.
To derive the greatest value from the
manure Of sheep with the least expense
and with the most benefit TO the land, the
plan Of hurdfng and feeding the animals
upon the field to be enriched, which is
adopted BY the English farmers, is prob
ably the best that ca be devised. Take
4 field, for instance, upon which potatoes
have been raised. Ii Is commonly over
run with weeds, often so much so that the
potato tops can be found only by careful
search when digging time comes.
Upon that field, after the crop is re-
moved, place the sheep. combining them
within its boundaries, if there is not
surrounding fence 20 constructed as to
prevent them from getting into adjoining
fields, by means Of hurdles, which can be
easily and eheaply built Of poles. Feed
them what they require in addition to the
quantity Of weeds which they will eat
always remembering that the the profit in
raising stock Is found in liberal feeding.
heep them upon the same piece of ground
uutil il has been MANFRED as heavily as
the demands Of other fields will permit,
bearing in mind that one field well en-
riched and carefully titled will be much
more profitable to the farmer than two
not more than half SO well MANFRED and
tended. If those who keep a few sheep
will try this plan next season upon some
field. the result will surprise them. The
fertilizing power Of sheep dung Is much
greater than ordinary barn-yard manure,
and by combining the animals upon the
ground which il Is desired TO enrich, the
manure will be spread more equally and
evenly over every part than it could be
by hand labor, while the expense Of ap-
plying l. reduced to a minimum.
The increased yield Of a field - treat
ed will convince the most skepticsl Of the
value OF the plan, and will be likely to
lead TO more extensive investment in
sheep, more careful and economical treat
ment and management Of them, and more
attention to the raising Of such crops as
can he fed to them with the greatest
profit