Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-08-24
Pastures for Sheep.

Every farmer knows that sheep can
not bear damp soil without injurious
effects attending, and that undrained
pastures are therefore to be avoided;
also all low spots OF hollows in which
marsh plants grow. But all farmers
are not aware of the fact that the char
acter of the soil upon which these ami
mails are pastured has an influence for
good or for bad.
Soils rich in potash, such as those
consisting of decomposed granite or
feldspar, are not favorable for sheep;
pastnred long on such lands they show
a generally unhealthy appearance, es-
pecially the lambs. These lands are all
we'll enough for cattle, but sheep thrive
best on sandstone and limestone soils of
a dry, porous character. The original
home of the Leicester sheep and the
Shropshires is red limestone. The
American Merinos are to be seen in
perfection on the limestone hills OF Yer
mont.
While peat or marsh lands are unfav-
orable for sheep farms, salt marshes
near the coast are utilized with fair re-
suits, as the saline herbage acts as a
specific against the diseases to which
sheep are subject upon ordinary marsh
lands.
Sheep are also bred with success in
localities where coal is mined, an in
stance of which are the fine flocks in
Ohio and Pennsylvania on pastures with
underlying coal formations.
Wherever the locality may be, and
whatever the geological character OF
the soil, if the land is not drained sheep
can not be raised with profit. They
must have dry pastures, or diseases
will quickly and surely thin out the
flock.
The character of the soil influences
the character of the herbage and the
character of the sheep is influenced by
| the pasture. All kinds of grass are moi
equally good for sheep. The flesh and
wool of the sheep, scientists teach, arc
but the products of the soil and contain
only what has existed in the plants
which the sheep have consumed.
Analysis of clean wool gives in every
one hundred pounds about seventeen
pounds of nitrogen and five pounds OF
| sulphur. When fed on nutritious pas
ture the fleece contains quantity OF
greasy matter termed "yolk" and the
animal is in good health. This yolk is
a sure Indication that the food is al
right and sufficient. When the WOO
is harsh and dry this a proof that thu
uourishment is defective. Now the
yolk contains large per cent. OF pot
ash, hence the proper food must be ricl
in sulphur, potash and nitrogen, as wei
as other matters. The bones OF the sheel
contain large per cent. OF phosphate
and carbonate of lime, With these fact
in view, it will be seen that the pastur
must either contain grasses giving tn
required elements, or be supplemented
by other food which will supply the de
ticiency. Right here comes the argu
ment for variety of grasses, and as
rule pasture of several grasses is bet
ter than that with one only. The bes
of the common grasses are those G
creeping habit, with fine, short hei
bage. Timothy, oat-grass, spur-grass
bluegrass, sheep's fescue, red-top an
orchard grass, when closely pasturee
meadow foxtail, white clover, etc
form desirable herbage for sheer
Buffalo-grass and the mesquit grasses
. the West are excellent pastures. Is
the way, the occasional dressing OF pa
. ture with bone-dust, salt and sulphat
of lime furnish a supply OF mineral ma
ters that are of service.
! Parsley, yarrow, wormwood an
other grasses of an aromatic or astrii
gent character are often introduced inl
/ pastures for their medicinal effect upo
the sheep.--M Y. World.
------ss So
1t is announced that w. II. II. Mu