St. Landry democrat., 1883-09-01
Pastures for Sheep.

Every farmer knows that sheep can
not bear damp soil without injurious
effects attending, and that andrained
pastures are therefore to be avoided;
also all low spots or 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.
I Soils rich in potash, such as those
consisting of decomposed granite Or
feldspar, are not favorable for sheep;
pastured long on such lands they show
generally unhealthy appearance, es-
| peeially the lambs. These lands are all
well 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 heritage acts as a
specific against the diseases to which
sheep are subject upon ordinary marsh
lands.
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 heritage and the
character of the sheep is influenced by
the pasture. All kinds of grass are not
equally good for sheep. The flesh and
wool of the sheep, scientists teach, are
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 a quantity of
greasy matter termed "yolk'' and the
animal is in good health. This yolk is
sure indication that the food is all
right and sufficient When the wool
10 Htti 81 anu dlY tHAS plOo1 biht tiiC
uourishment is defective. Now the
yolk contains large per. cent. of pot
ash, hence the proper food must be rich
in sulphur, potash and nitrogen, as well
as other matters. The bones of the sheep
contain q large per cent. of phosphate
and carbonate Of lime. With these facts
in view, it will be seen that the pasture
must either. contain grasses giving the
required elements, or be supplemented
by other food which viii supply the de-
fciency. Right here comes the argu-
ment for a, variety of grasses, and as q
rule pasture of several grasses is bet
ter than that with one only. The best
of the common grasses are those of
creeping habit, with fine, short her.
bage. Timothy, oat-grass, spur-grass,
bluegrass, sleeps sfescue, red-top and
orchard grass, when closely pastured;
meadow foxtail, white clover, ETC.,
form a desirable heritage for sheep.
Bufalo-grass and the mesquit grasses of |
the West are excellent pastures. By |
the way, the occasional dressing of pas
ture with bone-dust, salt and sulphate
Of lime furnish a supply of mineral mat
ters that are of service.
Parsley, yarroW, wormwood and
other grasses of an aromatic or astrin-
gent character are often introduced into
pastures for their medicinal effect upon
5he sleepy Z. World.
F.