The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-03-17
oRIECTIONs TO SHEEP.

With all the advocacy that has been
made in favor of sheep breeding by those
who have found It profitable, the one
single objection so common to farmers
has stood in the way and been an obsta.
Gle almost since the settlement of our
country. The repungnance to sheep is
the fact that they Craze too close. Far
mers are willing to risk all the disadvan-
tages of foot rot, grub and other diseas-
es, but this great terror ot close grazing
is too much for them. In vain have the
large yields of wool from the Cotswolds
and MeriEos, been displayed, and use
less have been the exhibits of the mar
bled caTcasses of the Southd0wns. The
close cropping of the pastures cannot be
borne, and the consequence 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 the quality of
being able to crop OFF the scantiest her
bage that grows on profitless places,
that makes them desirable as farm stock.
Their ability tosendure great thirst. OF
rather, to better state it, to do with lit
tie water, enables us to keep them in
fields not adapted to other stock. Il is
true they crop down to the very roots,
leaving but little; but the weeds, as
well as the useful plants, receive 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 a pasture, or
cultivated field, nor barren waste that
has not been benefited when grazed up
on by sleep. The evenness with which
they spread their droppings, the tread
ing of it into the ground with their feet,
and the constant motion kept up by the
flock that facilitated this disposal of
dropping, prevents not only the slight
ing of any portion of the land, but en-
riches 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, ToI by
frequent change of pasture and reseed-
ing, the sheep leave the land in a condi-
tion to produce much larger quantity
than before.
Let any farmer select a pasture and
stock it with sheep, giving them privi-
lege to eat as close as they wish Let
him smother his feeling OF horror at tn
sight of disappearing grass, and patient
ly wait-wait till the season for breed
ing and marketing is overland then
uing his pasture at its worth the time
the sheep were placed therein With
all the objections 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 increas-
ed fertility Impaired to the land. In
fact it is a difficult matter to 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 undesirable grasses usurp the places
of better grOwths. TIE cure for such
pastures is the close cropping of the
sheep that cleans it all-the bad as well
as the good. The prejudice against
close cropping is an error.
In claiming that sheep is more profit
able than other stock, this assurance
will be doubly fortified if farmers will
cross their sheep with thoroughbred
rams. If great carcasses and long wool
are wanted use the CotswOld but this
breed needs a little better pasture than
the others. If the fineness and weight
of the wool is desired try the MeTiao,
but do not expect large sheep from them
as they are the smallest breed, but the
best, and very hardy. If mutton is need
ed, 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 fieerce in
creased. Sheep will pay even when bad
ly treated, sometimes but like other
Il
ward, the farmer being more than re-
paid for any trouble they give. Give
them the pasture and keep large flocks,
and let them crop close if they wish, for
they will pay their debts in full at the
proper time.