Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-02-14

advise all to improve their fiocks by
the use of improved sires. Some few
flocks coming under my notice have
improved their wool capacity from Alto
8 lbs per head in this way by two cross
es. When you have surplus do your
own culling and you will soon have
your flock at n point that your culls
will be eagerly sought for.
With regard TO wool there are some
mistaken ideas held by the inexperi-
enced. They think IL Is hard matter
to breed long wool, and some even 20
so far as to say and believe that some
breeders pour oil on their sheep. They
are not aware that long wool and even
more oil than breeders would wish can
be procured by single cross. But TO
obtain fine, even, strong, dense
fleece, with the length and crimp de-
sired, req.ires time, experience and
Judgment.
consider the care of sheep one of
the most essential points in making
the business success. / shall adj
dress my remarks to breeders of grades
as most of my hearers are of that class.
First of all, keep your sheep out of all
storms. Many men think because a
sheep has wool on its back IL is all the
protection needed, Notwithstanding if
he himself has u thicker coat on his
own back he will run for shelter from
the same storms. ] believe sheep to
be just as susceptible To feeling rs a
man, hence just us liable to colds and
injury. You can keep your sheep in
much better condition, make them
shear heavier and much better quail
~ of wool. 1t is almost impossible to
wash fleece clean and white that has
become colored by the frequent wet
ting and drying of the yolk and oil. |
think those who practice housing their
sheep for one season will see its bene-
fits and continue to do so. Ii is a
pleasure to turn your sheep out in the
morning, after a cold storm, and see
them dry and comfortable, while those
left out will be wet to the skin, their
backs bumped up, shivering with the
cold, and with the wool parted on
their backs to catch dirt and dust.
know from actual experience you can
sell common sheep that have been
housed for at least one dollar more per
head, not entirely because they look
better, but because they are actually
better in health and condition
Another mistake made by many is
in letting their sheep pick up their
own living III the fall as long as they
can paw hole through the snow to
the ground. As soon MS frosts come
the sheep will fall away, although
they will not show IL like the horse or
cow, as the wool hides the body from
view They should havea little grain
as soon as there is any prospect or
chance for II decline. Breeding
L.. ..l L. n
fleshy in the fall but kept in
good, strong condition, and this condi-
ton should be gradually increased I'M
til spring. / think too much clover
hay is injurious would prefer corn
stalks and straw, with perhaps one
feed of tame hay during the day. They
should have room for exercise, and
free access to water and salt every day
In the year. The sailing of sheep is a
duty very much neglected., My sheep
go directly to the salt box every night
on their coming to the yard during
the summer, and when they leave a
large proportion of their former feed
during the winter, ! invariably find
their salt box empty. If you wish to
raise early lambs, previous to turning
out to grass feed roots, bran or oats to
piouuCV plchty VI Nilh, anu tlcTe Will
be but little difficulty in rearing
lambs, and but few dams that will dis
own their lambs.
Lambs can be made to shear from
two to four lbs more wool by little
extra care and feed during the winter
The extra wool will more than pay for
the extra feeding, and the result will
be much larger and stronger sheep.
For this purpose j would feed good
clover hay, with bran, oats and corn
mixed equally Western Farm Jour
nal