Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-05-31

j OOutuuOM IL LuCl0 nClC DO dluClOnCC
i'll the quality of the meat it would still
be evident that Merines are not adapted
for the production of mutton in COM
parison with the so-called mutton
breeds. The larger size, better form,
and more rapid growth will make the
fat lamb from Leicester or COtswold
eve. either of which give an abundance
of rich milk. twice as heavy, if not 9th
erwise more desirable than lamb Of the
same age from a Merino eve. The
shearing wethers from good Leicester
tiock will weigh from 120 to 200 pounds,
and the two shears from 200 to $50
pounds, while Cotswolds and Lincolns
weigh st II more. The earlier maturity
of most mutton breeds, if nothing were
claimed on the score of quality, would
sufficiently prove their superiority for
the production of mutton. Down sheep,
which have the reputation of affOrding
mutton of superior quality, are some of
them considerably inferior to Leieesters
| in size, while Oyfordshire and Shrop-
shire Downs are as heavy as Leicsters,
and in great repute as producers of NUT
ton.
The variety of mutton sheep for any
| farm is not question of taste merely;
it should be determined by the charac-
ter of the region, and of the soil upon
which the sheep are to be kept. Many
years since, after taking my medical de-
gree in the City of New York, spent
some time abroad, mostly in Great Brit
ain and France. While in England l
was surprised to see so many distinct
breeds of cattle and sheep in 80 small a
country. Seeking an explanation, no.
ticed that in every instance different
breed of cattle or sheep indicated diff
ferent geological formation, and cOnse-
quently different soil. Running dia-
gonally through almost the center of
England, from southwest to northeast,
there is belt of country where the
rock is known as the lias and Oolite. The
soil upon these formations is well adapt
ed tor pasture, and upon this stretch
of land were almest all the long
wool sheep of the country Cottswolds,
Leicesters and Lincolns; even one or
two detached sections of similar soil. in
other parts of the country also had SIM
liar sheep. To the southeast of the
Oolite is the cretaceous formation, where
the soil is thin and the herbage much
less luXuriant; every sheep that | saw
upon this section was dOwn-SOuth-
downs, Hampshiredowns and Oxford
shiredOwns. The Shropshiredowns were
not iD this section, but over the western
side of the lias upon the red sandstone.
On the mountains of Wales was dis
tipct breed; so, also, upon the Cheviot
hills to the north of England, and still
another breed. the black-facsd or heath
breed, on the mountains of Scotland. A
year or two since [ was speaking of this
relation between the geology Of coun
try and its animal forms to Professor
Brown of the Ontario Agricultural col
lege at Guelph, when he showed me
ypf5nae he had written upon the sub
ject, containing maps and charts for IL
lustratiOn. He had pursued the matter
further than had done, and was able to |
give me many new and interesting facts. |
So long AS adequate commercial pro- |
lection enables the Ohio flock master to |
grow the best class of clothing woods at
fair profit, he will doubtless prefer some |
style of a Merino sheep. If the best
woels can no longer be produced here at |
reasonable profit, 1t may become me-
cessary to grow those of coarssr charac-
ter, such as we usually fnd upon NUT |
ton sheep. Coarse wool fabrics appear |
to be more generally worn than former
ly, and the regulation black broad-cloth |
suit is nc longer the invariable and ne
cessary mark of gentleman. In order |
to utilize much of the service of Ohio |
which is better adapted to sheep and |
wooll-gro wing than to any other indus |
try, we must continue to keep sheep, |
selecting whatever variety is best adapt
ed to the locality and pays best Except, |
perhaps, when dairying is made spe
cialty, sheep of some kind should be |
kept on nearly every farm in the State.
Sheep are cheap feeders; they will pick
up good living for time in stubble
field, saving feed that would otherwise |
be lost; thsy are useful to keep down |
weeds and bushes, and are convenient |
for cropping off the wheat that gets too
rank in the spring. Two or three farm
ers in neg iborhood by alternately kill
Ing and dividing good sheep can keep
their families supplied with fresh meat |
both summer and winter.
We sometimes hear the opinion ex-
pressed that sheep are not thoroughly |
hardy in Ohio; bat this opinion can
scarcely be well founded. The annual
loss of cattle in the State is p per cent,
of horses per cent, of sheep by dogs |
and diseases combined per cent, and |
of swine 10 per cent. Where flock of |
sheep is unhealthy, it should probably
be attributed to unskillful management;
to failure to recognize and arrest para
site diseases at their outset, or from
failures to give sheep-pastures good
dressing of land-plaster occasionally, to
supply the sulphur which is indispensa-
BILE to the formation of wool. Horses
are kept in Ohio that we may use their
strength or speed, and the style of horse
varies as strength or speed are most in
demand. Cattle are kept for milk and
beef, and the character of the animal
differs with the purpose required. So
if sheep are kept for wool and mutton,
the character of the animal must con-
form to that style which, under all the
circumstances. will pay best