Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-06-05
Sheen in snrine-

sheep in Spring.
The Spring having come, the hock-mas-
ter reiaxes his supervision, thinking the
danger over, but this is a great mistake,
says the Sock Journal. Sheep are sur
rounded with more danger in April than
In January. They are so fond of liberty
to roam, and so intent on finding some
thing green and succulent, and of getting
to the bare earth, that they are apt to
Overdo the exercise, and, finding very
little food, they become weak for want OF
proper nourishment.
1t will thus appear that very strict and
careful attention should be given to the
flock in this dangerous time between hay
and grass. We have known focks that
having passed through a severe Winter
In apparently fine, healthy condition,
until open Spring invited them to the
fields, would, after few weeks of roam
Ing there, begin to die off almost as If
smitten with pestilence. These sheep
had hay in racks under sheds, where
they go and eat at pleasure. They would
hunt all day, in every nook and corner,
to find something green, and, getting ex-
hausted, were not able to return for food.
The shepherd should look otter them,
and only allow them two or three hours
in the field, returning them then to the
yard, to be fed upon nutritious food.
This is the time Of all others when they
should have moderate amount Of grain.
They become dainty and do not eat hay
so well as. in cold weather The grain
stimulates the appetite, and also gives
them strength. We regard It as very
bad policy to let sheep ruin in the field,
without supervision until there is enough
to support them, or nearly so. 1t would
be better to keep them in the yard, as
had been done through the Winter, with
careful feeding and watering up to the
time of grass, rather than to. allow them
to roam over fields at pleasure, with no
care.
Corn alone is not a proper food for
sheep in Spring, as. they require some
thing more Strengthening to the muscles,
and less fattening. One part corn and
three parts bran or. middlings, will do
well. Oats, or oats and bran, are also good
for them. Bran is somewhat laxative,
and will, to some extent, counteract the
effect of so much dry food, but, where
linseed-oil meal is obtainable, it should
always be kept on hand, and a little fed,
either daily, or two or three times per
week.
The best medicine is the appropriate
food, and this kind Of medicine is all that
- AS1OAiSSA Will q JNAOAS4ON1o anu
shepherd. Linseed-oil meal often be-
comes the most appropriate medicine, as
well as most appropriate food. We very
often recommend it, because of its great
aid in keeping the bowels in good con-
dition, and because it is to be had by
nearly every sheep-owner upon a titled
farm, We export large quantities Of it
to England and Europe, where they bet
ter appreciate its value. It is not neces-
sary to use of this more than one pound
for sheep per week.
Skill in the management of sheep is,
perhaps, better shown in Spring than
Winter, and this is a period that the
shepherd should study with the greatest
care. All animals are more likely to
show any particular weakness they may
have in Spring than in any other season.
The cold season gives tone and strength
to the system, proper shelter being had,
and the milder season tends to relaxation,
and thus more attention is required to
keep the system in balance. "The mas
ter's eye is worth two pairs Of hands"
was Franklin's maxim, and it will hold
here with great force. The shepherds
eye should be educated, and he should
carefully scan his flock daily to discover
the sheep needing social assistance.