Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-07-25
VOL. LII. NEW SERIES, VOL. \NNl.
AGRICULTURAL.
SHEEP AND LAMBS.

With the hot weather begins risky
season for the flock and time when the
shepherds care needs to be constant.
Flies abound, and are ready to propagate
in any moist filth about the tail or uddcr.
Once Il sheep is fiy-blown, it seeks Il lone
" place. and will hide i'll fence corner
and remain out of sight until dead. The
suns heat and the want of either abund-
ant or Of good water frequently bring on
diarrhea. which increases the danger
from the fly and also weakens the sheep.
Dysentary follows neglected. diarrh@a,
and carries off the sickened animals very
rapidly There are many reasons why ut
this time Il flock should be visited ire
quently, and counted each time, for Gel
tainty that all are in good condition. If
one is missed it should he sought at once
and brought home for treatment and
care
One of the greatest pests at tins season
Is tick. These leave the shorn sheep and
gather on the lambs. The Young animals
are worried and weakened hy these para
sites. and are sometimes killed by them.
1t is now easy to rid the flock of them.
The pest NAV he destroyed by dipping
the lambs i'll Iecoction Of tobacco and
sulphur. one-half pound of tobacco steep
ed in five gallons Of hot water, and the
addition Of eight ounces of flowers Of
sulphur, well stirred i'll, make an effective
dip 1t should be used at n temperature
of ll2 degrees and should be keptat that
heat by the addition of fresh hot liquid,
not water. The lambs only require Dip
ping, and half-tub large enough to i'm
merse the lamb while held by its head,
and its head kept ont of the bath, is the
best vehicle for applying the dip.
Ewes from which lambs have been
taken require special care. If necessary,
they should he MIXED at night to relieve
the udder and this should be continued
until they are dried. Garget may occur
by neglect the udder may cake, tester,
and suppurate, when flies will attack the
poor animal Many good ewes are thus
lost for simple want of care. Lambs that
are weaned should be separated from the
older sheep, and piece of fresh grass
reserved for them. A run i'll corn-tield
will be much relished 10y them they will
eat many weeds and some suckers, but
will not iniure the corn. The shade and
coolness will be agreeable to them. Those
ewes that are intended for market should
be fattened and disposed of as soon MS
possible. Every day lost Is loss of food
without return. Store sheep may run III
Il stubble or piece of waste land, and
will do very well with small allowance
of bran or mixed oats and rye Half
pint daily will he sufficient. Foot-rot is
caused by the accumulation of filth or
sand under the loose horn which grows
from the walls of the hoof and turns un-
der the sole. Neglect to properly pare
the hoof assists it. The sole is kept moist
and soft. is irritated, rots, and communi-
Gates the irritation to the sensitive por-
tions Of the foot under it. Then follow
inflammation, gangrene, decay, and fe-
It'd. purulent discharge which conveys
contagion to sound feet The rot is most
frequent upon..wet pastures. which en-
courage growth of horn and keep the sole
soft, and is rare upon dry. gravelly land,
which keeps the hoof worn down. The
feet should be examined, and the flock not
neglected until some are found crawling
painfully upon their knees The hoof
should be pared and all loose horn re
moved Any diseased feet should be
dressed with quicklime paste, all decayed
horn having been first removed. and If any
serious cases are discovered and fnngoid
excrescences found, these should be re
moved by applications of strong solution
of blue vitriol and the foot dressed with
an ointment composed of one ounce Of
lard, one tablespoonful of turpentine, and
half al ounce of acetate of copper tver-
digris) The feet should be bandaged
and the sheep kept i'll iioored shed. Ne
glect verifies the adage of the ancient
poet sheep are always an unhappy
flock, but care and attention are suffi-
cient to avoid all the disasters which too
frequently fall upon the helpless animals,
and keep them in u thrifty and profitable
condition. YDrE Times.