Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-10-22

NluJcI, auu hhy "" INV
now"
ain the winter We keep them in the
ward at the red barn, and give them
the run of the barn floor at night and
on stormy days. The yard is filled,
and the barn floor is covered, with
straw, We feed clover hay and all
the turnips to the sheep and buy bran
besides. They geta few oats or corn
ears for a change, and we get a yard
full of manure by the spring. That
goes on to the corn. In the summer
We bring them out here to one of these
fields and feed them bran, oats and
corn, and get them fat; and after two
years pasturing, we can pillow up the
field and get a round of as good crops
as from any Of the other fields. l
don't see but these are as good Is any,
even now. AS soon as these ewes are
sold others will be picked up and turn
in here to pick their living until cold
weather comes, with tho help of lit
tie corn and fodder, perhaps
GLOW about dogs p
| "Well, we lose sheep now and
then, but we keeps close watch and
we sheet dog new and then, and
that brings us square. The sheep are
kept in a high rail pen at night and
the dogs cannot get at them. Some
times we trap few dogs, by making
a rail pen with the sides stopping inr
wards and pretty high, and putting a
sheep that has been killed, when we
have one. IN it? The dogs can get in
but cannot get out and then we have
little caucus with the neighbors who
have to own up and pay;for the sheep
among them. But we have never had
much trouble"
Il have always thought that the
greater part of the fuss made about
dogs was merely an excuse to cover W
carelessness," remarked Mr., Martin
"Folks keep sheep and neglect them,
and expose them to danger anC
the dogs kill them. If every farmer
kept sheep-aS every one ought to
he outcry about dogs would cease
There is great opportunity, If We
would only adopt our old friends plar
that is, raise mutton and wool, for oul
own consumption at least, aud buy
spinning wheel and few dozen knit
ting needles and let the girls spin
their yarns, while the boys spin theirs
1t would be great help on many al
interesting occasion, if the girls had
their spinning wheels to provide them
with occupation when conversation
Tagged, and their visitors were dull
"That is true enough" rejoined oul
old neighbor, spinning our own woo
is a good old domestic habit, and tC
be able to eat our own mutton is very
convenient and saves money. A dOz-
en- sheep might be kept without cost
ing anything that could ever be found
out, if it was not very closely looked
land there are many that cost more
and are never thought Of
"What kind ought to be kept il
such case p l asked.
"The South Down gives the mos
for the least )" 'FThe mutton is the
very best and the wool is just right
for the country carding mills to make
up into rolls for home spinning; oil
tie mills will take that wool, and
weave it into homespun on shares, but
they won't look at combiDg wool, ber
cause it is too long to be carded. Thai
is the great fault with the long-woo,
sheep. Combing wool don't sell Sc
easy as carding wool, because it can
be used at the country mills; besides
coarseowool sheep are too fat muttor
for home use. You can put two inches
Of fat on their ribs, but that is only
good to SELL
There are no other sheep so hard.
as the South Down." said william
"Our thorough bred flock gives more
lambs than the grade longswool ewes
and are never sick; but the trade eve
are often ailing and if we did not sci
them off, some might die; the wool i
open to suit me, and the sheep tax,
cold in stormy weather. which tb'
South Downs don't mind at all.
You may be right remarked Nj
Martin, shut the Cotswold is nobl
sheep. Look at the eve that weighs
| 100 pounds, and not half fat yet. And
moreover, is is row an accllmated cit
izeD and as hardy as native, as, In
deed, most OF our flock of this breed
now are. 1t is true, combing wool il
hard to sell IN country places. but there
is permanent and growing home mar
ket for it. and in the cities it is always
saleble at some few cents per pound