, 1877-06-02
Sheep the MainStay of Agriculture

| IN The States. the man. cement will be sneh
40 10 make it evideu, to the mos. casual OBJ
! server that The farmer could not possibly
make his farm pay without a numerous flock
of sheep, aud it will be bitterly regretted
that so much of The fertility has been lost 10
the country by seEdiug grain and corn away
instead of having Sepr sheep II il essential
that there should be ram breeders who pay
particular attention to the production of su
uniformly true bred race, aud 10 reimburse
| them for extra care aud expen-e, no one
should grudge the paying of gocd price.
for it do-s not pay for man to nee rams of
his own breeding in flock originating from
| mungrels.
One of the best recommendations n tenant
farmer IN England can have is that he so
manages a. to feed and bring ronnd a larger
| fiock Of sheep than his neighbor, in proper
ion to the numher of acres. Ii is but few
years since the highest premium given by
The Royal Agricultural Society of England
went farm which grew Prodigions crops
| and was in the very hight of fertility cre.
ing 10 The great number of sheep bred,
| raised, and fatrened on 1t every year. Here
the accounts proved how remuneraiing this
system really was, for i, could not be at.
| lributed to the farmers bodily labor and his
great industry, as it would be in America,
tor the farm WAS rented one and the tenant
widow. This woman. however. put to
shame thousands of men who are trembling
ly afraid of high feeding, for she lad paid
81 POO per year for oilcake, besides feeding
grain, &c., in great profnsion, which all
came back TO her again IN the immense crops;
aud reccolect, ye American landowners, this
was not her own land.
Ia America great stress IL laid on the eau
ton pot to rrcss the breeds and TO respect
-.=ch pnre-bred variety rs sacred, and not TO
be defiled by Guy other blood. Butthe United
States Is free country, and say what any
one chooses to say about purity of blood and
keeping it uneouiamina.ed by other kinds of
Strains OF even ty totally foreign blood, il has
aided clear headed and deep thinking men 10.
cross or give dashes Of fresh blood in order 10
bring about the shape, rbe fleece, aud the
particular tendency TO mature early they
sought. Hence It will not be worth while
tor Intelligent. wide-swake men to be in
fueneed by the cautious Of interested breeders
against taking dip of any new blood which
they have reason 10 believe will be beneficial.
head the history of the Hampshire Down,
and though DO one can deny the exrraordi-
nary improvement which was here effected
in very short time. yet it is so well known
that it cannot be disputed that there Was a
gnod deal Of crossing resorted 20 when the
Hampshire Dom was being improved and
established. Then, again, everybody has
read how Bakewrn searched the country
through to find The frame, shape. and gem
= 6. toll
were required TO supply the markets of that
period. Afterward he kept close TO the ewes
and rams which proved true TO the standard
be had erected. and consequently, 1t Is not
worth while to be afraid of dash OF cross
OF fresh blood. when any thoughtful farmer
can see it would supply some deficienCy IN
his flock, or would decidedly improve his
step. Thr- Oxford Down Is an established
breed, and that was almost a direct cross be-
tween swo different breeds, for the men who
first started this variety did i. openly, and
ueighbors watched the effect dOubilngiyI
aud only admitted the Success when the Off
spring and descendants commenced 10 win
premiums and the admiration Of the public
generally. Tbr Merino is more or less inter-
mixed with all the grade fiocks in :he United
Sfa -. and these grades are a very useful,
hardy breed, which. being but all native and
iho-ouyhiy NJ climated, should Q the rounda-
iiou of any flock intended in the future 10
bring in an annual profit from wool and
mutton
4 good Judge of sheep. with practica,
knowledge of the best aud most salable NUT
Ton and wool, has, at this present day.
good opportunity to distinguish himself by
4 /, L,
which would combine the best characteristics
Of mutton and fine wOOled sheep. and which
would bear confinement in wiut-r BITTER than
sosue of our present breeds do. The South,
however, will doubtless eventually become
the great sheep dis rict Of the States, and
there will not be occasion for mnch shelter
there. Probably it may be found that qnite
different brerds will be required for the warm
and cold climates Of this country, for In
England. Wales, and Sctland, which corr
bined form a miniature Of this vast continent,
n ,ture has di, ersi6ed the breeds 10 suit the
highlands, the mountains, the valleys. the
forests. and the broad plains. When sheep
husbandry becomes general every precantlon
will be taken 10 prevent any sudden s'ornt
from destroying the prosperity of any flock,
for there must and will be shepherd on
every farm, and of course with the common
forecast u--d in -egard 10 other stock, In haV-
ing food, &c., always on hand for occasional
need. there will be no losses but such as The
English and all other sheep raisers are liable
to. In nv next will describe the Engil-h
management: of sheep on the farms rented
and occupied year after year by the common
tenants. end he average priee cot for rat
sheep, wool. &c.-Errd Neto HorEsT.