Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-10-02
Hurdle Feeding.

we are asked by a correspondent II
hurdle feeding is practical in Iowa in
sheep husbandry. In answer we
would say that it is practical anywhere,
where the hurdles can be had, but in
most portions of the West, under our
present system of agriculture, it is not
necessary. Hurdle feeding is in some
respects like soiling in its effects. 1t
gives the grass of the portions of the
field from which the hurdles are re
moved a chance to grow undisturbed.
No doubt it is economical as compared
to pasturing a whole field at time.
In those sections where land is not SO
plenty and cheap as it is in many parts
of the West, it is a good thing. But
in the West we shall never get down to
such economy as hurdle feeding en-
bodies until our farms are smaller in
size, and it is more trouble for us to
get along than it now is. The system
does away with the necessity of q very
large amount of fencing, and that in
itself would be very desirable accom-
plshment. But there must be thorough
reform before fences can be dispensed
with. " lille a part of the community
would as soon that their stock
would run in the highways
as to have them decently taken care of,
everybody else must be to the serious
expense of fencing aga INST such stock.
Hence. we must have fences; and, con-
sequently, one OF the great reasons for
adopting the hurdle system is inopera-
tive. Ii we were all ia. ming closely.
that is, If we were striving to ma e
every acre under our control produce
the most that it possibly could produce;
if we were determined to have nothing
about the farm that was not utilized, n
hundred rods of hurdle fencing would
prove TO be very valuable addition to
the farm. With such fence it would
make no difference where or what a
piece OF pasture was, it could be util-
lied if we wished to utilize it, A piece
of stubble or attergrowth could be very
readily Enclosed, and hurdles could be
removed, until rs one advocate of the
system puts it, every part of the field
has been pastured, and the grass turned
into meat and wool. The hurdle is es
pecially convenient with sheep. They
are not difficult to contine. and they
may be connned until not only the
grass of a certain spot is eaten. but
also until they have led close enough
to destroy all the weeds.
AS to the form of hurdle fence ANY,
thing will answer that can be set mp.
and will contine the sheep after it is set
up. Many men could devise n fence
without much cost that would answer
the purpose. There are hurdles that
are placed upon rollers and are rolled
from place to place, as the sheep need
change of pasture. Of course this is
the most convenient, and it is said that
their additional cost is not very great.
But of this we do not know of our own
knowledge. Alderman Mech, of Lon
don, made use of an iron hurdle placed
upon wheels. This was very durable
A hurdle made of iron was in use upon
MIR. Mechi's farm for thirty years or
more. but it cost six dollars and thirty
cents per rod, and that would rule it
out in this country. We can conceive
no circumstances, however, at present,
under which we should think that
hurdle feeding was necessary in Iowa.
But wewiii say, while speaking upon
this subject, that it is method well
worthy OF adoption upon poor and worn
out farms. If the Ruraf has among its
Eastern readers any who are on such
farms, we invite the attention to the
value of small tiocks of sheep upon
such farms. and would recommend the