The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
HOUSE, FARM AND RANCH.
Points OF merino sheep.

nOUOCJ GhnW HNU nHNON'
Points OF MerinO Sheep.
Mr.. J. B. Kay, in an address to the
New York Merino Sheep Breeders
association, had the following to say
on this subject:
But few persons would prefer
staple of more than two and one
half inches for a ram, while many
would be contented with a tw o-inch
staple of highly crimped wool pro-
vided the maximum density offleece
had been reached. Comparative
evenness of fleece with as little glare
as possible is an important point
reached by our western breeders.
Experience has fully demonstrate
ed that great weight of fleece can be
combined with the highest physical
development, constitutional yigor
and other points of pertec-
ton as indicated above. AS
to point of oil, or yolk, the greatest
amount that can be secreted without
impairing the vitality of the animal
is admissible in a ram. Most
breeders prefer color bordering on
buff, while thin, sticky oil of a
greenish cast is highly Objectionable.
AS TO folds or wrinkles, which is a
distinctive feature of the American
merino type, there might be a d.
versity of opinion as TO size, loca-
ton and number. Still it would be
difficult to find ram of such heavy
pendulous neck, tail and flank as
would disqualify him as stock ami
NAL in any flock. While many would
| prefer that with the above he should
have large fold extending across
the point of the shoulder, a con-
siderable number on the sides ex-
tending a massive proportion well
under and nearly across the belly
yet diminishing well in size and lost
to view in full fleece before reaching
the back, with numerous large folds
lengthwise across the hips and
stiles.
Those who fancy the delaine type
are aiming in the main to secure the
same points of American Merinos
while at the same time securing a
longer staple of high quality OF
wool. AS to folds or wrinkles, q
| good neck, tail and TANKS are about
all that is desirable, with little or
none on the body. Thus we have
before us a pen sketch of our ideal
rams of the American and delaine
Merino types.
Management of Swine.
In discussing the management OF
swine, Prof. Knapp, of Iowa, says:
| Perhaps the radical change should
be less in the food than IN the pro-
portion it is fed. Corn is healthy
enough when given in moderate
quantities; wheat is considered a
healthy food, but hogs can be ill.,
jured upon that as readily rs upon
corn. The hog has an appetite be-
yond his capacity to digest, and so
long as that is the case, he must not
be given full rations of concentrated
food till within few weeks of the
pork barrel. There are two practi-
cal methods. First, in case the
farmer has no roots nor pasture. he
can grind his corn and mix with il
wheat bran. Half bran and half
corn meal by bulk make a good
mixture for all kinds of stock. For
pigs. add little salt and oil meal
for pigs under one hundred pounds,
use some milk; older than this, water
will do. Second, the purchase OF
large quantities of wheat bran is ex-
pensive for the general farmer; corn
and clover are the profitable crops to
be fed. In such cases the cheap food
to go with the corn is sugar beets in
the winter and clover in the summer
No food can be raised on the farm
that will answer a better purpose
than sugar beets for the main de.
pendence of store hogs during the
winter. and with suitable machinery
and some knowledge few crops can
be produced at greater profit.
Those who desire to rid their
fields of bushes and brambles should
take advantage of the long days in
August, and early in September
when the sap is nearly all up from
the roots of trees and brambles to
cut them off close to the ground. A
weeks delay, because of pressure OF
business on the farm, will make il
necessary to do the work over again
another season. Whereas, if all the
bushes and brambles be cut off the
last week in July or the first week
In August, an effectual end will be
made Ofthem and thus future trouble
and annoyance avoided. Nothing
more mars the beauty of farm than
to see fences and ditch banks lined
with hedgerows ofbushes and weeds
of unbidden growth. Work now
done in this direction Is paying and
telling work for the farmer.
"Don't kill the toads. the ugly toads
that hop around your door. Each
meal the little toad doth eat hun
dred bugs or more. He sits around
with aspect meek until the fly has
neared, then shoots he forth his little
tongue like lightning double-geared
And then 10th wink, and shuts his
ugly mug, and patiently doth wait
until there comes another bug"
Hon, E. a. Parks, of Waterford,
Vermont, sold from his herd OF
twenty-three COWS, in 1881, 685s
pounds of butter, for which he re-
ceived $2167.15; also used 200 pounds
in his family, and $50 pounds OF
cheese and 1924 worth of milk and
cream; fed sour milk to hogs worth
$175, obtained $50 for calves, and
fourteen calves raised, valued at
$168. Total income from dairy
$26S2.15, or little over $116 per
head.
At the Vermont dairymen's con-
vention Mr.. Cheever, speaking of
milk as food with and without its
cream, said: "The robust forms OF
the European emigrants who use it
extensively in their own countries
retute the idea that milk is only fit
for babies. The per cent of water
in milk is not so large compared
with other foods as is generally
supposed. Lean meat is dearer than
milk as food. Whole milk IS more
complete food for animals or man
than skinned milk, but the latter
taken in connection with fat used in
cookery is quite equal to whole
milk. Skinned milk is almost a
perfect food for pigs in summer.
They live and grow upon it, but
they need something more for fat
tening." Milk contains of digesti-
BILE substance, albuminous 3.O2, 5 of
carlo hydrates, and SO fat. and
skinned milk about the same, with
most of the fat removed.
Mr.. L. Ii. Sheldon, Fairhaven,
Vermont, reports trial of cotton
seed meal, which shows what it will
Il