The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-26
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Tn Favor of sbeep


A Spanish proverb says: 'tSheep have gol-
den feet, and wherever the print of them
appears the soil is turned to gold" The his
tory of farming in every country in the world
shows that the raising of sheep has an impor-
tant connection with keeping up the fertility
of the soil. For retaining worn out farm
there is no stock so good as sheep. The ma
nure they make is seldom reckoned among
the profits of sheep husbandry, but it is in
reality one of the chief sources of income.
Most farmers realize this who have aban-
doned sheep raising at times when wool and
mutton have ruled low. Sheep are vegetable
scayengers. They will eat and digest avery
large number of plants that horses and cattle
will never touch. They will make very
comfortable living on little more than the
leaves of bushes. AS q rule, one sheep may
be kept to every cow and horse in pasture
without detriment to the feed these larger
animals consume. Such is their desire for
variety OF food that they will often leave
grass to feed on the leaves of bushes and
weeds. Sheep will search higher and lower
for food than horses or cattle. They are the
last to leave the pastures in the Fall and the
first to return to them in the Spring. For
seven or more years OF its life a sheep will
yield fleece equal In value to the body from
which 1t was taken. During all this time the
increase in number will pay for the keeping.
The difference between the price of wool at
the place where it is shorn and where it is
marketed is less than for any article produced
on farm, with the exception of cheese. If
the price does not meet the growers views
when it is taken off it may be stored year at
one per cent. of its value, and tits quite sure
to increase that amount in weight. In all
old countries where agriculture has made the
greatest advance sheep-raising has constantly
grown in importance. During the past hum
bred years the number of sheep in Great
Britain has doubled, while the price of wool
has doubled, and the price of mutton has
more than quadrupled. This has been the
case, notwithstanding the fact that wool is
now so cheaply produced in Australia, South
Africa, and other countries nnder English
rule. No branch of farming in GRAFT Britain
is in a more prosperous condition than the
production of wool and mutton. The de-
mand for mutton always increases as COM
munity increases in age and wealth. Old
butchers in this city state that the demand
for mutton, as compared with beet, increases
every year. At present mutton retails at a
higher price than beef. As to Spring lamb,
it is dainty that always commands fancy
price. A farmer who has the conveniences
for raising very early lambs has a source of
income superior to anything involving the
same amount of capital. In this as almost
everything dependent on the season, the ear
ler in the season the higher the price.
Sheep are best adapted to furnishing meat
for farmers family of any animal he raises,
The carcass being small, it can generally be
eaten fresh without any of it being
liable 10 injury. Mutton can be kept much
longer than beef under the same circum-
stances, and its flavor is improved by its be-
ing kept reasonable length of time. No
meat is the superior of mutton when cured
with salt, boiled and eaten with vegetables.
Cold roast mutton is superior to beef, owing
to Its fine flavor and excellent keeping quail
Ties. A nice mutton chop is the finest break
fast dish that can be found for the same cost.
The health and the bill of fare of farmers
wo1ld both be better if fresh mutton more
generally took the place of salt pork. 1t is
an easy thing for farmers to provide con.
slant supply of this most delicious meat. By
keeping few wethers in a small pasture by
themselves, and granting them, an animal
may be ready to slaughter at any time. Any
farmer can learn to properly dress sheep, and
the operation requires no appliances. Sheep
pelts always bring cash. and can generally be
sod at good prices at home. Sheep-raising
has had its ups and downs like almost every
kind OF business, but it is question if any
kind OF business has paid better for series of
years. The rapid increase of sheep is very
favorable to farmers of small means who wish
to engage in wool-growing. Sheep-raising is
too much neglected in the West. The ami
NAL that furnishes clothing, food, and light,
which eats what other animals reject, which
crops hill-sides too steep for other animals to
ascend, is entitled to vastly more credit than
it receives.-Chicago Times.