Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-03-10
pHdNIX AND RECORD AND FARMER FRIDAY, TO- 1882


With all the advocacy that has been made
/ in favor of sheep breeding by those who have
| found il profitable, the one single objection
| so common to farmers has stood in the way
| and been an obstacle almost since the settle
ment Of our country. The repugnance to
| sheep arises from the fact that they craze too
close. Farmers are willing to risk all the dis
advantages of foot rot, grub and other dis
| eases, but this great terror of close grazing is
too much for them. In vain have the large
| yields Of wool from the Coiswolds and
Merinoes been displayed, and useless have
been the exhibits of the marblod carcasses of
the Southdowns The close cropping of the
pastures cannot be borne, and the conse-
quence is that the most useful and easiest
kept animal We have is pushed aside for those
that often do tenfold more damage
This very objection, so strenuously held
forth, is one of the highest merits possessed
by sheep. 1t is this quality Of being able to
crop of the scantiest heritage that grows on
proitless places that makes them desirable as
farm stock. T0ir ability to endure great
thirst or rather, to better state it, do with lit
tie water, enables us to keep them in fields
not adapted to other stock. 1t is true they
crop down to the very roots, leaving but lit
tie but the weed, as well as the useful plant,
receives the same treatment, and the waste
matter that is rejected even by the hog is AN
item in favor of the keep of the sheep. There
never has been pasture, nor cultivated
field, nor barren waste that has not been
benefited when grazed upon by sheep. The
evenness with which they spread their drop
pings, the treadng of it into the ground with
their feet, and the constant motion kept up
by the flock that facilitates this disposal of
droppings prevents not only the sighting of
any portion of the land, but enriches it to
degree beyond even the supposition of those
who are aware Of such advantages. The close
grazing is thus not an actual loss of grass, for
by frequent change of pasture and reseed-
ing the sheep leave the land in a condition to
produce a much greater quantity than before.
Let any farmer select pasture and stock
it with sheep, giving them privilege to eat as
close as they wish. Let him smother his feel
ings of horror at the sight of disappearing
grass and patiently wait-wait till the sea
son for breeding and marketing is overland
then figure up the receipts and expenses, val
uing his pasture at its worth at the time the
sheep were placed therein. With all the OBJ
| jections that can be conceived against them
the farmer will find that for the amount of
capital invested in the sheep, he has realized
more than from any other animals on the
| farm, and this will not include an item that
| belongs in favor of the sheep, which is the
| increased fertility impaired to the land In
| AhSti ~ 10 IulAS ullltulA ulhlltI " Keep
sheep without profit. They pay in the face
of every obstacle. Most farmers delight to
keep up old pastures, but old pastures in time
become well run out, and weeds and undesira-
BILE grasses usurp the places of better growths
The cure for such pastures is the close crop
ping Of the sheep that cleans it of al-the
bad as well as the good. This prejudice
| against close cropping is an error.
In claiming that sheep are more profitable
than other stock, this assurance will be
doubly fortified if farmers will cross the
sheep with thoroughbred rams If great car
casses and long woods are wanted use the
| Cotswold but this breed needs little better
pasture than others. II the ineness and
| weight of the wool is desired try the Merino
but do not expect large sheep from them, as
they are the smallest breed but the best, and
very hardy. If mutton is needed, with good
middle quality of wool, try the Southdown,
with its dark face and legs as its badge of
| purity, and the result will be satisfactory.
The flock will be improved the prices greater,
and the weight of carcass and fleece increas-
ed. Sheep will pay even when badly treated,
| sometimes; but like other stock care and at
tention bring their reward, the farmer being
more than repaid for any trouble they give.
Give them the pastures, keep large Aocks,
and let them crop close if they wish, for they
| will pay their debts in full at the proper
| time - pbiLIdslDLi1 RecOg1