The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-02-27

The improved Lelce0tcr ana the COts-
void are among the most important,
and are furnishing the oombing and
delaine woods which OF late years are
finding q ready market at paying
prices.
The southdowns also claim a share
Of our attention. They are short or
middle wooded sheep, and are among
the best as a mutton producing variety
being harder, and show Opposition
to fatten even on ordinary feed.
The treatment and care OF sheep
have been, according TO circumstances,
under the wisdom or foolishness or
neglect of their owners. Some have
been over-fed, aud kept in warm sta
bles and pampered until they have be-
come very tendes and debilitated; 9TH
ers, and by far too great q number,
have been too much neglected, and
consequently brought but small profits
to their owners. The medium course |
between these extremes is the proper |
one to pursue. They should receive at
all seasons OF the year n sufficient |
quantity Of wholesome food TO keep |
them in good condition. In the sum- |
mer they should be frequently changed
from one locality on the farm 10 an |
other; they should not be kept too |
long ON the summer-fallow, but remov-
ed as soon as the briars aud weeds are |
nipped off; short feed is better than |
overgrown, rank herbage OF any kind; |
salt is essential, and should be given
them as often as once a week. They
always seem to prefer the feed grown
on high aud dry land--do not thrive
well on low, marshy ground; will fre-
quently drink il pure water is accessl-
bic, but will get along better than cat.
tie or horses without ii. Sheep should
have their feet trimmed once or twice
during the year, il they require ii. and
the merinos will; other kinds do not
usually need any care in this direction.
A few drops of tar placed in cavities
around the horns of merino rams will
prevent the flies from doing their work,
which will surely prove fatal TO the
sheep il not attended to without delay.
! IL is we'll to shelter all sheep from the
chilling storms OF autumn and winter,
but should not be too closely confined.
Their stables require to be we'll venti-
lated and Uttered with straw. IL is
we'll to feed them once a day, ut some
distance from the barn, in order TO give
lutu tXtItltt huu NJ tho ohhC tihtt
give the stables good airing: No
stock should ever be compelled to
breathe impure air or drink filthy wa
ter. IL is as deleterious TO their well
being rs il is TO the human family.
Good hay made from clover and timo-
thy grass. cut before il becomes too
ripe, and properly cured, makes excel
lent food for all kinds of sheep. This,
! lsttln
and shorts mixed together, OF OCCASION
ally a few roots. will keep them IN good
condition. Corn may be gwen to sheep
intended for the butcher, but for
breeding ewes given in any consldera-
BILE quantities is not as good as lighter
feed, Lambs from ewes kept in stables
and highly fed are generally weak and
inactive. IL there be hay and corn fod-
der and straw designed for the winter
feed, it is well TO give them fodder
ing Of each daily, not keeping them ex-
ctusively on corn-fodder for six or
eight weeks, and then on hay or straw.
I Great care should be taken to prevent
chaff aud hay-seed from getting into
wool. Hay or straw should never be
dropped from stack or NOW upon the
I backs OF sheep. IL necessary to catch
, one, do il by gently grasping the hind
, leg, or by placing the hands around
+. under the neck. Never, under any cir
, cumstances, hold them by their wool.
r A little care with regard to these
| things will prevent future inconyen-
a ience aud trouble. Every farmer
!. should have a standard OF excellence oi
!. what deems to be the most profitable
V sheep for him to raise, and this stand
d ard should have reference to the ample
a capacity for lungs and digestive or
i eans, general hardness, size, form and
wool producing qualities; and II there
{ be any in the flock that do not come ny
D to il, they should be drawn out ant
|. fattened for the butcher, or otherwiss
e disposed of. Better sell them for wha
o their pelts are worth than continue Il
q breed from inferior animals. And d
q there be any with fieeces saturated
: with oily, gummy substances, and o
d light carcassess, that are badly pinch
d ed mp in cole, wet weather, be sur
IS and draw them out. A superabund
n ance OF oil is always at the expense o
= the constitution and of cleansed wool
+ II farmers would be more particular II
70 selecting breeding stock we would se
% n better class OF sheep in the country
:. that would well pay for all the extra la
is Dor. Those OF MS who in an early da.
q Of merino sheep speculation in TIM
u state ventured to invest, know some
v thing of the conduct Of spectators b.
II dealing with them,--in many case
n having paid pretty dearly for our in
l. formation, for while many good an
le valuable sheep were sent TO Michiga
,e from the New England states an,
c. from the state OF New York, Thousand
i. OF inferior ones have been fixed for th
ir western market by pampering an
IA painting and stubble shearing, an
r have been hawked about the countr
II by unscrupulous spectators, victimi7
10 ing those who put confidence in thei
" highly wrought stories. These thing
L. were discouraging. but are now ont
b. grown by those who have persevere
d with n tixedness OF purpose in the Ell
ie terprise.
y, / must say few words about shee
10 with regard TO their comparative valu
p, with other farm stock. With ms mi,
ut ell husbandry is the prevailing orde
IN OF things. would not change it il
could, and could not il would. Si
Id uated as we are with n soil adapted I
sp the production OF all kinds OF graf
I'd and vegetables, the grasses in abunt
r. ance, with the dairying business sue
A. cessfui in many localities OF the couI
ly ty, the fruit interest continually becon
OF ing more and more important, and OF
ck suitable adaptation to the productio
10 OF good cattle and horses, il would
he the height OF folly 10 advocate one di
y, tinct husbandry at the exclusion an
OF sacrifice OF all others. We must ha'
n, our bread. beef, pork, our butter an
d, cheese, poultry and fruit. for hon
he consumption at least. But while i N
ed vocate mixed busbandry as rule, the
ng are preferences among farmers with T
OF gard 10 the kind OF stock most profit
ng ble for them to keep. which is vel
m proper, for while one man can see &C
y, tain success in the future from bree'
Jiy ing good horses, another can see
,es much more clearly in the productiC
~. of good cattle. The man who wou
T.. 20 aside 10 kick n sheep has no bu'
IA. ness with the care OF that inoffensi
lh- animal. Sheep give quicker retur
Ter than cattle or horses. Suppose. for
er- lustration, that a farmer pays 81 p
tn head for twenty-five good sheep so,
ith after shearing, consisting principal
iy, of grade merino ewes and full-blo
~. ram--sl00, and that he also pays &
l. same sum for four steers, say hfte
n r,orthe olJ aod kaena them on