Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-02-06
Farmers and Sheep. Raising.

Farmers and Sheep. Raising.
There are few methods by which
The small farmer can more easily
increase the profit derived from the
farm than by keeping sheep. / DO
not mean that the farmer should
dispose of his excellent and prof.
table brood mare and replace her
with sheep. | do not mean that
the dairy should be disposed OF
and the farm devoted to sheep hus-
bandry. | do not even suggest
that the fields of grain. corn and
potatoes should be converted into
a sheep pasture. do not mean
that even sheep growing should be
considered the most important of
all the industries to which farm
may be devoted. Notwithstand-
ing, a small flock Of sheep will, If
properly managed, be found a
most useful adjunct TO the other
industries Of the farm, and on the
whole very profitable investment.
Wooden blankets and many di0erent
articles of underwear are necessary
in families residing in the northern
States. No method of procuring
these necessary articles Of wooden
goods can be so satisfactory or
economical to the farmers family
as to keep sheep and produce the
wool on the farm. There is no
question but that this method 10
cheapest, besides being more apt
to furnish a satisfactory quality
with less risk Of the always unde.
sirable shOddy. The farmer may
keep sheep producing wool of a
medium degree Of fneness, which
is apt to give the housewife much
better satisfaction that the very
fine wool or the cOarser stables. 1t
will he found more economical to
keep producing wool best adapted
to home consumption, it is not de-
sired to produce wool for market.
II wool is produced for market and
not home consumption, of course
the requirements of the market
must be observed and again, the
farmer keeping a flock of sheep
can in the fall, when the weather
is cool, supply his family with ex.
cellent fresh meat. The necessary
wedding out Of the old or unprcf
table ewes from the flock will be
generally found to answer this pur-
pose, and such sheep at this sea.
son Of the year will be found quite
fat enough without extra feeding.
Good mutton (and there are very
few people who really dislike good
S0uthdown and Cotswold mutton)
is fully as cheap meat as the far.
mer can procure.
One word in regard to the source
of profit to be realized from the
flock Of sheep. OF course wool
may be sold, and so the old and I'M
profitable ewes may be disposed of
to the butcher and always at good
prices. The most important source
Of profit consists in the sale Of
spring lambs. The earlier and
larger these lambs are, of course,
the better prices can be realized.
1t is always safe to expect 81 to
Sc per head for lambs, according
to their quality and the market
where they are sold. There is one
other item of profit to the farmer
due TO the keeping Of sheep which
all intelligent farmers will apprecl.
ate. | refer to the economy Of
pasturing and wintering sheep.
Sheep may be kept on rocky and
sterile pastures. They may be
kept where COWS would starye, and
hence a pasture should not be
overstOcked with both cows and
sheep. Sheep are very useful in
eradicating weeds and subduing
briers, and thus are a more ex.
cellent aid to clean culture. They
may be well wintered on bean and
pea straw, or other fodder that is
not well reished by either COWS or
horses. 1t should be remembered
that, although sheep are very
convenient subject for economical
measures, yet at the same time
they repond quickly tO generous
treatment. Warm shelter and
generous feed will pay with sheep
as with other farm stock. In the
meantime, farmers, pay a little
more attention to the small flock Of
sheep.