The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-09-25
Autumn Treatment of Sheep,

!, The essentials to successful sheep husbandry
cannot be too forclby presented or too frequent.
ly reiterated Each recurring season brings
Its history, adding others to the already long
list OF those who have come short of the sue
cess to which they too conlidingly aspired.
The source of these dlsappointmcns will in
most instances be found in adisregard of some
fundamental condition; some error Of omis
sion or commission, INTO which the flock own
er has fallen by reason of faulty teaching or
imperfect judgment. While certain avenues
may be open to experiment; while the breeder
of experience, as well rs the nOviliatc. may
find excuse for pausng upon the Threshold
of some contemplated venture, there can be no
valid excuse for emitting the fullest possible
preparation for the comfort and thrift of the
flock through the trying vlcissitudes Of the fall
and winter. Here is no field for conjecture.
In the more rigorous latitudes the flock master
who now withhOlds dimes from his sheep but
robS his own pockets of dollars IN the near iu-
ture. The present season Is peculiarly well
adapted Tor placing tlOCks upon the winter III
the best condition. The past summer has been
favorable, and a bouniful corn.crop lnsures
the best of feed at low prices Sheep and wool
are worth more money than ut any time tor
some years, with no corresponding advance III
the puce of cattle aud swine. This combina-
ton of fortuitOus surroundings opens before
pecially an opportunity for early and profta-
bic returns for all the time and money they
can prudCntly bcstow upOTtheIr tloCks. High
rates tor grain transportation will combine
with heavily.stOCked market to keep the
price of corn within the economical reach of
those who have not enough for their utmost
needs. With the first trOsts some corn should
be fed, no matter how plentiful the supply of
grass may be and this gradually increased I'M
q
be cautiously increased and fed after the sheep
have been on the pasture for several hours the
most satisfactory results will follow the feed
ing of corn IN what may be considered liberal
quantities, until maximum of two and q half
or even three bushels per day to each hundred
sheep has been attained. The necessity of this
amount may not exist, as straw and other fOd.
der may be had in greater or less supply; but
the average feeder is more apt to err on the
side Of deficiency than by an Oversupply. Shell
ter from the cold and driving rains of late fall
and early winter is almost rs necessary as lib
eral feeding. If circumstances do not warrant
the construction of permanent shelters, pretty
fair substitutes may be had by matching with
straw or cornstalks a tempory frame of forks
and poles, opening only toward the south.
Where even these cannot be had some good
will result from placing the flock IN a shell
tered valley or near grove, where the under
growth OF brush will furnish some protection,
though poor 1t he, against the chilling winds
as they pierce through soggy fleece 1t Is
now that the successful flock master laws the
foundation for his success through the ensuing
winter and spring. \ flock fairly started upon
the threshold of winter has passed more than
half its dangers. The strength gathered
through the mllder months will enable i. TO
safely endure vicissltudes under which lessf
vored animals would succumb. The highest
profits will be found by those who feed with
an unstInted hand and otherwise surround
their flocks with tine completest comforts con-
slstent with their surroundings. This has ever
been the rule, and no one need hope to profit
BY its eSceptions-NdtioRol Lire-Stoct Jour
nal