Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-04-23
Talk About sheep.


would find it greatly 10 their advantage
to engage more extensively in sheep
husbandry.
There are thousands Of acres through
out the Southern States that have not
been cultivated since the war, taken by
bushes and briers"-an expense as
well as disgrace 20 their owners-that
by a little energy, aud with small
capital, could be converted into proht-
table ''sheep walks" paying a hand
some profit upon the money invested
and so enhancing the value of the lands
that what is now looked upon as not
worth the taxes upon it, could be made
source of income. Besides, there are
thousands of acres now cultivated IN a
slipshod, haphazard way with worn
out implements and careless hands,
the product of which will not pay eX'
penscs, much less taxes and interest,"
whilst the soil is being constantly I'M
poveushed and rapidly becoming worth
less. A large portion of such lands are
reasonably well adapted TO the rearing
of sheep, and when once used Tor tna'
nurpose. will constantly improve, as
nothing will do as much towards reno
waiting impoverished lands as herdlng
and feeding sheep upon them.
1t may be SAID, that enough grass
cannot be found for the sheep to sub
slst upon. This, in my opinion, Is a
very erroneous idea. Nowhere can
heritage fit for sheep be produced IN
greater abundance than in the Southern
States. The inevitable cotton and
Niger" system was opposed to the
raising of grass. Examine a plantation
which has been neglected, and nowhere
will Won find such growth of succulent
animal food, of spontaneous glowth, as
in the halt cultivated cotton or corn
field. fas much effort had been made
within the past fifty years to encourage
the growth OF the grasses as has oeen
made to prevent their growth there
would now be millions OF acres covered
with the indigenous crosses OF the
South. aud aflording good pasturage ior
almost countless numbers OF sheep.
Texas. the farthest South OF all the
States, aud with much OF lis soil not I'M
like that OF her sister Southern states,
is to day the leading stock'grO"lhg
State iu the Union.
Glover. milet. rye. barley and peas
ran all be successfully cultivated
throughout the South. aud exctl'e"'
food for sheep in their -recn as we'll a.
in Their cured state. Cotton seed meal
mi.ht also prove valuable adjnnc' III
iattening sleep.
The mild. short Winters would g'''
tn tie sh ep.tr.rder Of the Southern
>...,e> y ,nea; ADVANTAGE over ms com
n, 1itor> Of the Northern ~ ties. IL"
.yn.nse shelf r und w uter i" g."
would he usisn ficau'. Whilst suoh !"
thing as a lamb ''clilled" to death would
b. almost unknown. VERY early lanIb-
.,lw ,ys hrnr extra ;ine prices, mi III
S,uih,ru breeder could nave MS Ian =
?, nj, for the market from Il m"nin t.
* weeks earlier than hi less fortuna"
.rpiire oi the Month. thu m"nopo'z'
in. ,hc lr ID for that lrn.'h "l time ana
, ..zn- 3. e.. ir'"es.
=, . pr.li'. IS 'cr
~ Nd, a. mnI I've Onl - plar" !"
~. Inn -, ~. W'n the obi ct i
f. mise earl lambs for tn butcher. the
hes ewes. to begin with are -o"d
ra,.yc> or Mrrno GRADES. w,ith can he
ad for about $3.50 per head. and
should be purchased during the months
of May and June, when they are al
ways lower than at any other period
during the year. If the purchase OF the
ewes is deferred until July or August,
there is danger Of getting them in lamb
to some of the many scrub rams" that
are roaming at large throughout the
country, besides the advance in price
would be much more than the cost OF
two months keeping ofthe ewes. These
ewes should be bred to the best
thoroughbred mutton rams of such breed
as is best adapted to the pOrticut0r
locQlity. OF such rams the best are al
ways the cheapest. and can be had
from reliable breeders at cost Of $50
to $35 each. and one ram will serve
from fty to sixty ewes. and will last
tor six or seven seasons. if put to
service at eighteen months. The rams
should be put with the ewes during the
month ofJuly. aud purchased from a
distance. should be shipped in April or
May preceding. The sheep will need
hut little care until they begin 10 drop
their lambs, when they should have the
constant attention Of a careful hand I'm
Ill all the lambs are dropped and two
ar three weeks old. The nursing ewes
should have daily allowance Of about
a pint of equal quantities of corn, oats,
aud wheat bran, until the lambs are
ready for market. whlch should be when |
about four months old. An excellent |
plan. in addition 10 the above. is to
have an enclosure. with door or Opc- |
ming too small for the ewes and large |
enough for the lambs to get through. |
aud containing troughs in which a
mixture of corn. oat and pea-meal is
kept. The lambs will soon learn 10
eat the meal. aud the benefits derived |
will be surprising. With proper