The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-02
Value of Sheep a. Manure Makers.

Vaiue OF sheep as Manure Makers
Pas, uIe alone is not sufficient to maintain
sheep in profitable thyift, especially in the
breeding season; in addition, daily
ration of grain is needed. When the
pasture is poor, the quantity of grain should
be liberal. With good pastures, pint of
mixed corn and oats, rye aud buckwheat is
little enough; with poor pasture half as much
again would be required to keep full grown
sheep or growing lambs in proper condition.
In some sections cOtton-seed meal is coming
into great favor for feeding sheep on poor pas
lures, a halt pint being fed to each one daily.
It is a nutritious food, and makes an unexcep-
tionably rich manure; and the quality OF the
dung OF animals as manure always depends
on the quality of thrir food; for the dung is
only the food, changed by the process OF diges-
ton, less the portion taken into the system as
nutriment. There is mistaken idea, which
has been fostered by writers who know little
about sheep, that these animals have the
unusual capability ofliving upon weeds, hriers,
brush and coarse heritage, and OF not only
getting fat thereon ; but Of greatly adding to
the fertility of the poor soil. A sheep, how
ever, has no power to make something out of
nothing, By reason of its fine mastication,
and its vigorous digestion, it can, perhaps,
exhaust itsfOod OF more OF its nutriment than
any animal, except fowl, and its manure, by
reason of its finely comminuted condition,
rapidly decomposes, and is at once effective
as fertilizer. To make our flock thrifty--to
secure strong lambs, heavy feeces, and good
mutton-we need to feed the sheep and we
must do this if we would turn our flock into
vehicles for spreading manure and enriching
rhe soil. 1t is a.fact, that sheep supplied with
regularly given ration OF one pint OF grain
per day, besides pasture, made in 80 days,
30 pounds each more weight than flock on
as good pasture without grain; and the value
of the extra flesh more than paid for the grain.
In addition, the fleece made growth, a large
proportion of the ewes conceived twins, and
the lambs came strong Grand were better sup
piled with milk. And, as matter of course,
the droppings of these sheep must have been
richer in fertilizing value than those of poor
ly fed sheep. The good shepherd careth for
his sheep, and he has his reward in the rich
est return that can be made of any OF our
farm animals for the food and care given.
Instances of the successful use of sheep as
fertilizers of the soil are given SO frequently,
but without any reference to the method OF
their use, that it has becomes general belief
that nothing else is needed to make poor
farm rich. But if any novice is led to try it
for himself, both he and his flock will come
to grief.-American AgriculturiSt.
OF Horses.
The 1,500,0 600, people in the world
own, or may own if they lasso the wild ones.
go, 900 900 horses. That makes one horse to
to each twenty-five people. Russia has more
horses than any country of the world, having
$50 600, which is quite equal to the rest
OF Europe. or to France, Germany, Austria,
Cauada. and the United Sia'es. Great Britain
has 225 600, France 100000. Germany
1852, 900 while the United STATES has more
tnap all three, our horse census giving rs
1854 600. Our American horses are next to
the Arabian animals for docility, being
second only to these for endurance as well
as good disposition. The English thorough
bred is demon in temper, aud the other
European horses are generally vicious or
stupid. With gentle but firm handling FROM
early cothood, our horses are second to none
In all desirable and possible qualities. 1t is
lamentabe indeed to think how many ami
mails, through combined neglect and harsh
ness, grow up with prevented or benumbed
dispositions. The horse makes the quickest
and most abundant return tor good education
of any animal except the dog and these two
are exceptional in their susceptibility to good
Influences. Horse education should be gentle,
consistent, persuasive and inductive, Just as
the world is slowly beginning to maze the
the education of children. The teacher OF
either must be sure to rule his own spirit and
to know himself. He is making marks on a
smooth tablet where they cannot be erased
however much he may finally wish it.-Loav-
ell Weekly Journal
Maine Board of Agriculture.
A branch meeting of the Maine Board of
Agriculture will be held at Poland Grange
Hall, Harris Hill, in Poland, Wednesday,
January Sth, 1879. Wednesday forenoon an
interesting discussion on Sheep Husbandry
will be held commencing at 10 A M. "Sheep
as Renovation and Retainer of the Fertility
of the Soil" will be discussed by Mr.. George
Flint of North Anson, Mr.. Ham of Wales
and others. "The Feed and Management of
Sheep will BIZ discussed by Mr. d. j. Briggs
of South Turner, Rufus Prince of South
Turner and others.
Wednesday afternoon the question SIN
What Way can the Farm Manures, both solid
and liquid, be saved and prepared to the best
will be opened by Mr.. w. W.
Harris of "Elm Brook Farm" Cumberland
Centre, followed by Mr.. j. o. Reyes of North
Jay and others. "The Application of Ma
nures' will be discussed by Mr.. Nelson Ham
OF Lewiston, j. r. Nelson of Winthrop and
others.
Wednesday evening Mr.. z. A. Gilbert OF
Greene will read paper on some interesting
agricultural subject. DR.. Garcelon of Lewis
ton and Mr.. B. f. Hamilton of Biddeford
will also read papers upon subjects to be an
nounced at the meeting. Good music will be
furnished by the citizens of Poland, and
stenograpber, Mr.. G. W. Moore, will make a
full record of the proceedings.
Projecting Trees i'm Winter.
Many fruit trees are lost every year for
want of little care at the proper time.
Many young trees are destroyed by rabbits,
and many almost every winter by the heat of
the sun In warm days toward spring. FIRE.
quently the rays of the sun, shining on the.
south side of the trees, will take OFT the
frost and, if near spring, start the sap, and
probably in day or two it will turn very
cold. This sudden thawing and freezing will
cause the bark to crack up, and perhaps peel
off the next summer, and very frequently kill
Or cripple the tree. A preventive is 10 take
what is called "straw board" or the thick
paper used under the ceilings in building
houses, or to take tin, Or Eastwood or hem
lock bark, and put around the tree, and let it
extend pretty well up around the body of the
tree, so it will keep the sun from taking the
frost out. When setting trees they should.
be marked. 80 that the side of the tree that
stood to the north in the nursery is set to the
north when put in the orchard. This will
also save many trees.-Corr. Country Gen.
tLeman.
Another Far Person Reduced 30 lbs.