Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-02


reasonable list can be secured 10 start with,
we doubt not that both publisher and edi-
tor may he found.
Sheep in Summer.
We take the following from the Country
Gentleman: After the iiocks are sheared
and turned out to PASTURE too many farmers
are apt to neglect them, especially as the
hay and grain harvest requires Immediate
and constant attention, and, in good weather,
give but little time for attention to any
thing else. There is, nevertheless, no stock
ON the farm which repays so much for lit
tie everyday attention As do sheep They
are naturally Of roaming disposition, not
always satisfied with their pastures, even
if abundant but like TO creep through or
under the fence into fresh aud untrodden
fields. Where the crooked rail fences sur
round the sheep pasture, there are sure to be
openings between rails, wider at one end
than the other. Through one of these a
sheep will push its head, and eat greedily all
the grass within reach apparently no better
or sweeter than that in the pasture. IN such
a case it often occurs that, if the opening be
wider at the lower end, the sheep will work
its head along upwards till the highest point
is reached, where it will remain, seldom
knowing enough TO go back if the head has
TO be depressed by so doing. If the opening
is not wide enough for the sheep to pull its
head through, at the upper end, it then is
fast, or as commonly called hung. Here
it will remain until it starves to death, I'M
less released by the owner or some one
passing
." In hot, showery weather, sheep (Nleri-
nos) are liable to disease of the foot, called
fouls Unless this be cured before the
sometimes is apparently contagious, and the
flock becomes considerably affected. In this
case the usual remedies for foot rot are
required TO cure the flock. The farmer who
daily sees his flock is apt to notice whether
any sheep is lame, and if any such case is
noticed, the suffering animal can be cured
without handling the flock, or even, if the
farmer is a skilliul shepherd without tax.
ing the flock to pen, or disturbing any ex-
cept the ailing sheep. A little vial Of salve
can be carried in the pocket when visiting
the sheep pasture, and single application
will cure an attack OF fouls, if given when
) the sheep first becomes lame
In order that there may be as much in
terest taken by the sheep in the visits of tn.
; owner, as 10y himself, it will be found good
plan to carry little salt and give it to then
at each visit. Sheep like little salt every
day, and any farmer of ordinary intelligence,
will soon learn how much TO feed them al
once so that they will be ready for a repeti
ton of the dose the next day. This plal
r. creates perfect mutual understanding be
: tween the sheep aud their owner, and they
| soon become so tame that he can catch anC
4 examine any one Of the flock without fright
ening the remainder. Some advise feeding
, a little sulphur with the daily salt or per
l. haps once a week, to prevent foot rot, anC
4 expel ticks Several seasons experience il
D this practice showed the uselessness of ex
d pectng any such results from feeding sui
G phur The foot rot has proved as yirulent
e and the ticks as prolific, when the sheep ha,
g sulphur weekly, as where none was fed, Tn,
fact that tick will live in vessel contain
e ing sulphur until it dies of starvation, il
u proof sufficient that that drug is not poison
i Gus 10 ticks.
5 "Within two TO four weeks after flock i
! sheared, the ticks should all be killed by dip
r ping the lambs into tobacco water, or the to
l. bacco aud arsenic solution recommended b,
a English shepherds. There is no danger /,
Il sheep or lambs, if properly applied an,
4 reasonable care is taken that the animals
4 heads are not immersed SO that the liquo
n gets into the eyes or mouth If the sheep an
r dipped, as well as the lambs, there will no
i enough adhere to the udders of the ewes Il
r sicken the lambs in the least, though som
e shepherds are so careful that they keep tn
l. lambs from their dams for an hour or two l.
- permit the liquor to drain away. Still thi
Il is not necessary, as the proportion of arseni
e is so small that it would take pint of tn
y liquor 10 nauseate or iniure lamb. Tn
g tobacco is the more dangerous of the two il
! gradients. The salye for foot rot or fouls
made of equal parts by weight of inel
y pulyerized blue vitrol and lard, well rubbe
It together.
IT "The farmer who gives his flock daily a
/ tention really spends less time with thei
during the summer than the one who visit
= them only twice in q month, for he never
II required to hunt the neghboring fields q
h farms for AN escaped animal or flock he ha
a no hung sheep to put into his profit and 10.
account; his cases of foot rot are few, AN
y not so general that himself and hired ma
n have TO stop off day from the harvest
doctor sheep, and his sheep know him an
II watch for his coming and are otherwi.
/, quiet-a great desideratun in keeping stoc
v proftably'