Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-10-22
History ola Poor Farm
SOMETHING ABOUT SHEEP.

1dtuCI uVuoSj "~S
old gentleman to take into his wagon
two fine dressed lambs, one Ut when
was to be left with me and one taken
TO Mr.. Martin Fred had gone on 10
the Martins before l knew OF thls,ano
after long delay, in which | suppose
he was learning some new ideas Oh
dairy matters from Miss Martin, he
returned and informed me that his
father requested my acceptance OF a
sample of his cross bred lamb tour
months old, weighing, when dressed,
A pounds, or IL pounds to the quar-
ter, 1 had neglected in the abundance
of py occupation to take much notice
of my old neighbours flock, although
be had frequently given some very
direct hints that be woold be gratlhed
by an occasional look at what was ev-
identity a pet possession OF MS; Ou'
this unexpected kindness determined
me to go and investigate the matter
MI Martin and | therefore went over
and were soon very much interested in
examining a noteworthy flock. The
re1r part Of the farm was divided into
three fields AMI in each of these was
flock one Of thoroughbred South
Downs, another OF ewes Of grade long
wool varieties generally known as
"Canada sheen" with number of un-
weancd hali-bred black faced lambs,
and the other of pure,bred grade
weaned lambs. The fields were eaten
rather bare, but the sod was thick and,
if not eaten 50 closely, would have
given fair crop of hay.
"These fields have never had any
manure on them since l moved here,
said the old gentleman, " excepting
what the sheep have dropped on them
I have never been without flock OF
some kind since 1 began farming,
62 years next spring. l have seen
sheep sold fora thousand dollars apiece
and I have seen them knocked on the
head for Their pelts, which brought
% cents each: but | have kept on and
never knew a fat sheep or lamb to be
worth less than 10 cents pound to
me for meat, nor the wool less than
25 cents a pound for the girls to spin
on winter evenings, That is the way |
always gothic value for my sheep, nov-
er mind what the market was, and my
sheep never lost me one dollar, but
have made hundreds for me. Some
of my neighbors have thrown away
their sheep, and before five years have
bought lambs from meto begin again;
andin the meantime have bought wool
to spiD,or yarn to knit,at the store pri-
ces. That's what I used to call fool
ishness."
81 think you might call 1t so still"
remarked Mr.. Martin. "Why do you
keep South Downs % asked he.
"Well, my commission agent, who
sells my lambs, says be can sell a
black sfaced, when he cannot sell a
white faced lamp; and the price is al
ways better. l have. sold lambs for
25 cents a PeunG this year when 9TH
efsgabcdt here have got but II cents.
A half South Down lamb does not
look so big as a Cotswold, but it is
plump and fat and weighs well. l
have kept South Downs for a good
many years, and every year get a
fresh ram from different breeder. |
don't believe in crossing too close, in
sheep"
"That was fine lamb you sent me,
but I see many here as good or better;
how do you raise these half breeds p
civilian picks up, every fall, few
ewes from the droves that pass here
to the Eastern markets, choosing grade
long wool shep that come from Caua-
da; these are large, heavy-bodIed, land
give large lamb, and one that grows
fast and soon : fat. We cross a
pure bred SouEr. y Down on these ewes
early in the fall, 50 as to have lambs
beoin to come in January. But vii,
liam can tell you all about that; he
lool,s afier the lambs, but as long as
live Te shall have a flock of sheep on
tbs farm that is certain
= r'Let us hear all alb ut it, William,
Said 1. 81 think can get an idea Of
two that may be useful to me-"
"Yes, yOu have some hill-sides
grown up to briers and weeds, that
would keep few sheep and lambs
nicely without costing you anything"
replied he. But this lamb bushes is
mine; grand father looks alters the
South Downs. The ewes in the field
have each had one lamb. and some
two; we have sold most of them, and
the rest are with the pure-bred ones
in the next field; you can tell the
half.breeds at this distance; they are
larger and the fleece is longer and
rougher. A South Down lamb looks
round and as smooth and even az IL