Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-08-21
AGRICULTURE.

OAS"s
The CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE
SHEEP. P.-There Is right way and Il
wrong way, hard way and an easy
way, an awkward and skilful way to
catch and handle sheep. A great many
men will seize the sheep by the wool
on the back with both hands, and lit
the animal clear from the ground by
che wool only. Barbarous! Let some
Siant grasp you by the hair of your
head and lift you from the ground by
the hair only! Would you not strug-
gle and squirm worse than the mute
sheep does when lifted by the woolp
And would there not be complaint of
a sore head for u week or two? If you
do not believe II, try the experiment.
We have slaughtered u great many
sheep IN years past, and when remov-
irg the pel's OF such sheep as had been
handled by the wool, we never failed
to observe that beneath the skin wher-
ever the animal had been caught by the
wool, blood had settled. In many in
stances the skin had been separated
from the body so that Inflammation was
apparent. We have known proprietOrs
of sheep TO be so strict in regard TO hand
ling them, that they would order he'll
per from the premises if he were to
catch a sheep by the wool on any part
of the body. Some owners of sheep di-
rect their helpers thus: "When about
TO catch a sheep, move carefully to-
ward the one to be taken, until you are
sufficiently near to spring quickly and
seize the beast by the neck with both
hands, then pass one hand around the
body, grasp the brisket, and lift the
sheep clear from the ground. The
wool must not be pulled. If the sheep
Is heavy one, let one hand and wrist
be put around the neck and the other
pressed against the rump." We have
always handled sheep in the way al
luded to. We never grasp the wool.
Others seize the sheep by hind leg,
then throw one arm about the body and
take hold of the brisket with one hand.
But ewes with lambs should never be
caught by the hind legs, unless they are
handled with extreme care. When
sheep are handled roughly, especially
if their wool Is pulled, the small bruises
and injuries will render them more
wild and more difficult to handle.
RECENT inves LEGATIONS threaten to
upset some popular notions. 1t has
long been supposed that early cut hay
Is more valuable than that cut later. If
the Judgment of the cows were test,
there would be no question about It..
Tney will leave the ripper hay, and even
refuse to eat it at all, if they can pro-
cure that which is cut earlier. In the
writer's dairy the milk falls off more
than 10 per cent. when the young hay
is changed tor that cut two weeks later
This is sufficient to support the general
opinion, in spite of chemical analyses,
which goes to show that ripe hay is
heavier, more bulky; and contains
more nutritious substance than that cut
earlier. Perhaps the operations of the
chemist can extract more nutritrIment
from ripe hay than can the cows stom-
ach; but as young hay feeds more pro-
fitably, it seems best TO cut early.
SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS TO HORSE
TRAINERs.-Never try To beat a colt in
to doing a thing, for if nervous me
may turn out vicious horse, and if
stupid he may become stubborn. Re-
member that by patience and gentle
ness he may be got to do anything that
will not hurt him. When the horse
shows signs of shying at an object, do
not beat him but lead him up To it, al
lowing him to stand and look as he
comes closer; and after he examines it
a few times he will not fear anything
of the kind again. In passing by hedges
with colt, throw in stones and stop
him until he takes no notice of the
noise. Before putting on any article
of harness, let your colt smell it, and
then rub against his head, neck and
body. Always start a horse with the
voice, never with a cut of the whip.
In starting, turn a little TO one side,
and in stopping when going up hill,
do the same.
HARNESS GALLS.-lt is a cruel thing
to work horse that has neck worn
raw by badly fitting collar. 1t put
ting horses that have been cOmpara-
lively idle during winter to the hard
work of the plow and the harrow, pain
full and unsightly sores are often caus-
ed, which, unless cared for at once,
prove of long duration, permanently
disflguring the animal. When the abra-
sion first appears, give the horse a day
or two of rest. 1t is better to do this
even If important work is somewhat de-
layed. Chloride Of zinc diluted with
fifty parts of water and applied with a
soft sponge, is good astringenC, serv-
ing to harden and toughen the skin.
But after all, the best way to prevent
CALLING is to have the collar, and every
part of the harm ess touching the horse,
a perfect fit. Keep it well oiled and
plIable. Then inure the animal to hard
work gradually and kindly.
STRAW FOR FooD.-A small quantity
of straw might be fed to working
horses without injury. Straw fed only
once a day to working horse is an en-
tirely different thing from straw morn
ing, noon and night. And it is the
same with fattening animals. With
milch cows it is different, and they may
be fed a considerable quantity of straw
and not affect the flow of milk. The
most important thing, and something
that is usually neglected, is to keep the
appetite of the stock always good. This
is easily accomplished by judiciously
feeding straw and hay together.
To CURE SCABs AND MANGE.-To cure
scab in sheep rub with plain petroleum
with sponge three times week. Dogs
can be cured of mango in the same way.