Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-11-30
Sheep for Renovating Poor Land.

We cannot expect to get something
from nothing, and keep ng sheep or
any other stock will not suddenly re-
store exhausted or infertile soil to I'M
bounded fertility unless we 60 outside
the farm itself for fertilizing material.
But there is no better stock to put on
such land TO assist in its renovation
than sheep. expecting at the same time
to receive fair income from the in
vestment in stock. A very good way to
begin is to buy as many sheep to feed
as can be provided with fodder and
shelter. Of course. grain must be fed,
and if enough is not raised on the farm
there is no danger of loss in buying
grain to feed fattening sheep. They
will amply repay for all they eat. Be-
sides this the farm is likely lacking the
mineral elements in its soil which can
at the same time be obtained through
the grain feed. and in this way double
profit may be made. Sheep, if selected
with reasonable care. are SO sure to Fay
for what they eat that farmer may
even run the risk of borrowing money
to buy grain to feed them. Some green
food is needed and for this mangels are
the best unless silo can be used and
green food be kept in that for winter
use These crops will be light, but the
land can be fed on what manure they
produce and they will soon reach max
imum yield. Sheep manure is the best
USUALLY made on the farm. because il is
always made and kept under cover. and
the liquid portion is absorbed and re-
tanned as is that from no other stock
Where the one great object in keep
ing sheep is the renovation of worn out
soil, probably the best method is to buy
after shearing sheep to fat the coming
fall and winter Buy flock of thrifty
common merino ewes with their lambs
sired by long wool or Southdown ram,
and both ewes and lambs can be fat
tened to advantage, or if the market tor
early spring lambs is good and availa-
BILE, and proper accommodations are at
hand 10 care for them, the ewes can be
bred again to the same kind OF a ram
for early lambs. and with high feeding
all can be disposed of in early summer
to make room for another lot. remem
bering all the time that good feeding is
what does the bushes and at the
same time produces rich manure for the
farm. Or, if ewes and lambs are not
desired or are not to be had. flock of
mature. thrifty wethers OF any breed.
will never leave themselves in debt for
food consumed. Still with good hand
ling there is undoubtedly more money
for the amount invested in the ewes
and lambs. but more care is necessary.
Sheep are close feeders on grass land.
,ul =, haa,-;l,- otnotaH will taan tho
grass down 50 short as to prevent its
best growth. This method Of feeding
will give the farm rest for time dur
ing the summer, giving the pastures a
good start for the fall campaign. The
manure continually applet to pillow
| land or meadow as fast as made will
wonderfully increase the product of feed.
and each year larger flock will be
needed to consume the crop. The start
once being made the business will keep
itself going and annually increase the
fertility Of the soil.
Grain farms in this way can be kept
constantly in high state of fertility
wintering large fiocks of skeep to con-
sumo the coarse fodder at profit and
producing increased yields of grain each
succeeding year.
When sheep to be fed are purchased
there seldom need be any trouble about
overs,ocking the land as the season will
be far enough advanced to indicate the
probable supply of pasture for the bal
ance of the season. but if it does not
hold out grain should be fed as soon as
there is any falling off from full sup
ply. for the sheep must be kept gaining
ali the time. AS to fall and winter
treatment We cannot do better than TO
quote the following from practical
feeder of many years experience.
As soon as the frost has injured the