The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-11-27
Rocky and Partially Barren Lands for
Sheep PASTURE.

THERE are millions of acres OF such
lands in the United States and Terrific
ries, and where it is not more profitable
to keep them in forest they may be util'
lied as pastures for the support Of sheep.
They ought to he owned in tracts sutfi-
GENTLY extensive to maintain tlocks large
enough to afford keeping a shepherd,
with trained dogs to attend them con-
stantly. Two or three Of these dogs tor
his companions, make it an easy task
for a single man to handle large flock
and keep any from straying or getting
lost; and they are protection to the
sheep from vicious dogs by day and
night, as they invariably attack and drive
off any such that approach.
Sheep may be pastured here in sum-
mer, and then be sold off or taken to
better lands to winter. But it frequently
happens that narrow valleys are found
winding between rocky hills, sufficiently
fertile and free from stones to be easily
cultivated for various crops. Where
this is the case, the English system may
be pursued of sending the sheep on to
the hills for pasture during the day, and
hurdling them on the growing crops IN
the valleys at night; or these may be
cut and soiled to them in racks, if pre-
ferable. A succession of crops must be
cultivated for this purpose, commencing
in the spring with rye; and continuing
during summer and autumn with other
nrodncts. which are too well known to
our readers to require enumerating here
Folding the sheep at night on these, en-.
riches the land adequately to bear good
crops the ensuing year, and thus it may
continue to be cultivated indefinitely.
In England these soiling crops are IN
closed with shifting hurdles, in squares
OF about an acre each, and the sheep,
when driven down from the hills at
night, are divided into bands of 100 or
SO. and each band folded on to a separate
division. An acre OF clover usually
feeds 100 sheep during the early even,
ings and mornings for week, anu
other crops do the same in proportion.
No better preparation can BE- made there
for a succeeding wheat crop than this,
if il be ever desired to grow one.
In such q system Of sheep pa.turing
and soiliug, they can be made sufficient
" fat for market to be drawn from early
in summer, and thus continue on for re-
peated drafts till cold weather sets in.
II the valleys are large enough, forage
can be raised there, not only to tatten
!. off all the sheep desired from the fiocks,
!. but also to winter over what is required
}. for breeding and store purposes the fol.
!. lowing season. This is one OF the most
J. easy and profitable systems OF farming
{ that can be followed in our country
!. and it only requires to be duly consid
;. cred by flock.masters, to induce ther1
n to adopt it a. rapidly and extensively
;, as cheap lands can bs obtained.
4 Sheep for such lands should be o
3 medium size, compact form; early t
l. mature, hardy and active. The South
:. down breed. or its high crosses ar
n usually adapted for this system Of feed
" ing and fattening in Eng gland, and "
think they would be the most suitable
r. breed for American hock.masters
d Richer. smoother and more level land
ut are better adapted for the larger Dow
b breeds, and particularly for that Of tn
n. Oxford, the biggest of all. Still richie
>. lands and mora abundant feed are II
5e auisite for the Cotswold, the Lincoln
es the Leicester and other long-woole
D. breeds, a. they excel in size, and ar
ID not 20 active to range in pastures an
work for . living.-Rural New Horke'