Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-08-31
Agricultural,
sheer Farming.

Despite the constant attention which is call.
ed to the value Of sheep, not only as improv-
ers Of the land, but as profitable farm animals,
for wool and mutton there are many farmers
who have never raised or kept single sheep,
though their farms arc adapted to raising
sheep largely and probably. Why this is we
cannot imagine, for facts and figures can be
had by the score to prove tho proftGbeness
of sheep breeding, If necessary, and about the
only drawback in many localities is the loss
occasioued by dogs Many rough, worn
out or neglected farm might be brought up
rapidly and be made paying land by breed
ing sheep thereon, as the manure from the
sheep is one of the most enriching of ma
nures, and is evenly and finely distributed.
OF course they may not do this without being
fed something besides what they can get in
the fields, yet this additional food works to
the profit of the breeder in two ways-it not
only insuros good and profitable growth of
flesh and wool, but it makes the manure rich
er and more valuable. Even poor farmers
can give sheep a trial by commencing in
small way, and then, as means and expert
enoe are gained, the focks can be gradually
increased by purchases, though the natural in
crease from a small flock of sheep is by no
means inconsderable, if properly managed
and cared for as they should be- Like any
other kind of stock, they must have good care
and food to secure the greatest measure of
proft-Fd2D1 and GdrdeH.
The mountain pastures of this state are es-
pecinlly adapted to sheep, and our best fine
wool is equal to any that the world produces;
yet there are fewer sheep in Vermont than
formerly. Though the reputation of Yer
mont Merinos was never higher, our hocks
continue TO decrease. Forty years ago there
were more than three times as many sheep in
the state as we now have But the amount
Of wool produced has not fallen of in pro.
portion to the number of sheep. According
to the census of 1910, Vermont had / ,GSl 600
sheep. There are now less than half mill.
ion but the aeeces average to weigh more
than twice as much each as they did in 1910.
More sheep might, doubtless, be kept at a
profit on many farms, but the keeping Of
more sheep would of course displace some
other live stock equivalent to the sheep in
the amount of food consumed and there is a
reason why more sheep are not kept on small
farms or in a small way, as advised in the ar
ticle given above and frequently by writers
who perhaps never had sheep to care for,
that seems not TO occur to them. Sheep are
Maturity lncllheu 10 roam over VIDE extent
of territory. They are continually searching
for fresh fields and pastures new" They
can leap on to a good stone wall and let them
selves down on the other side with perfect
case. They have great skill in finding holes
to crawl through fence which they cannot
jump over. The cost of fencing so as to keep
them whore they belong is the great drawback
to keeping sheep on small farms or in a
small way. There is now but little loss from
dogs in the majority of Vermont towns. The
dog tax has diminished the number of hun.
cry, WORTHLESS ours most likely to attack sheep
and provided fund generally sufficient to
pay for all that the dogs destroy.