Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-02-12
aarm anO Aonssbolo.
Maine Farmer
E!n.s c. Sheep Eussa.3ry


ton TO this industry, and there are many of
them. should understand the Importance OF
starting right, that is. with the right Kind
of stock. as much loss of time and money
NAV thereby be saved. The first questions
to be decided are whether they are 10 be
kept for their mutton. or wool. or for both.
as the answer to these questions will deter
mine the breed to be kept. Persons living
near large city NAV generally find 1t for
their interest 10 raise spring lambs and
mutton for the market, in which case the
wool will be of secondary consideration.
while oihersno so situated NAV find II Of
the first importance 10 select with reference
to the quality and quantity Of the wool.
But whatever the leading object may be.
the greatest care should be taken that the
foundation is good. that is that it should
consist OF good. sound healthy animals. In
selecting. size. age. and general characters
tics should be kept in view, as uniformity OF
the flock and progeny will he Of great ad-
vantage in the outcome, fact well known
10 all experienced breeders
Having selected the ewes with requisite
care, they should be bred only to thor
oughbred ram. The buver must select the
breed which he intends TO keep. whether it
be Cotswold, Southdown. Nerino or any
other of the numerous varieties keeping in
view what we have before remarked with
reference TO whether the leading object j.
wool. or mutton. or both. but let the animal
selected to breed to be a pure blooded ami
NAL. Such an animal viii stamp its charac-
teristics on his progeny, and all his valua-
Die qualities will he transmitted 10 his get.
After breeding TO a ram for two wears. he
should be changed for another of the same
breed. not inferior. and if possible better
animal than the first In short time a
fine flock will be the result When selling
either lambs or sheep. no mater what the
temptations may be in the way Of high
prices, the best animals should under no
consideration be disposed Of 4 strict OBJ
servance Of this rule and that alone. viii
prevent the flock from deteriorating In
selecting a ram, few dollars difference in
the price should not stand in the way of Sc
curing superior animal of his breed
when it does, It is false economy. It cost,
money 10 produce a good animal. but when
produced, he represents a value which can
hardly be expressed by comparison with an
inferior one, considered with reference "a
the future of the flock
The demand for wool and wooden good,
has been steadily increasing since last sea.
son. and there Is every prospect that it will
continue A large proportion Of the wool
worked up IN this country. is imported and
there is no earthly reason why il should be
SO. We could easily become exporters in
the space Of ten wears, and il would be
greatly 10 our advantage 10 have il 80. and
the foreign demand for our mutton gives
the subject Of sheep husbandry additional
Importance at this time. That more sheen
viii be kept in Maine and throughout the
country than heretofore, is quite certain. and
the impetus given TO the business. we think
viii be Of great and lasting benefit, but 10
get the best results as We have already
shown. great care is needed first and last
and all the time. To those who have had
experience IN the business. the force ofthese
suggestions will, we think. be obvious, and
those who are Just beginning NAV find
something worthy Of their notice
We have often spoken of the value Of
sheep husbandry as means OF renoyating
old fields. and Of restoring worn out farms,
and II will do no harm to refer briefly 10 il
again, IN this connection. Reported exper-
lments 90 TO show that in localities fayora-
bic TO this industry, sheep husbandry is the
best and cheapest remedy that can be an
Piled. Il is the cheapest because the sheen
VIII pay good profit az the beginning. and
all the time, If the business is intelligently
managed, and il is the best because il is the
cheapest The natural habitat of the sheep
Is upon hills and mountains where in his
wild state, he enjoys the cool breezes with
which these localities are favored. but he
has become so thoroughly domesticated
that he Will do well almost anywhere. even
on the plains and in the valleys. provided
he md heritage, water and shade
word with regard 10 handling sheen.
may not be aniss in this connection. We
have known people to catch sheep by the
wool on the back with both hands and lift
them clear from the ground. This practice
Is both dangerous and cruel Dangerous
because 1t VIII almost invariably start the
skin from the body and is liable 10 induce
inflammation, and cruel because it causes
more or less pain to the animal. If anv
one doubts this, he can easily satisfy him
self OF It's truth by allowing some persons TO
LIT nm by the hair Of his head. starting the
scalp from the Uranium. We have seen
cases where sheep have only been caught to
be slaughtered, upon which after the skin
has been taken of, the blood was found TO
be settled under the wool which had been
grasped by the hands, AMI in other cases
where the skin had actually been started of.
The proper way TO catch sheep is to move
carefully towards the one to be taken. and
when near enough, spring quickly and
seize the animal by both hands without
closing them on the wool. then pass the
right hand around the body and grasping
the brisket, lift ii clear from the ground.
II the sheep is too heavy to be handled in
this way, let one hand and wrist be passed
around the neck and the arm be pressed
against the leg. Never, under any circum-
stances, grasp and pull the wool, and it is
better not even to grasp it Lambs should
never be caught by their hind legs unless
they are handled with extreme care. When
sheep or lambs are roughly handled and
their wool pulled in way to produce pain.
they become wild and difficult either to
catch or hold