Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-03

Henry Reynolds. NJ. D., in Mirror and Farmer.l
In the older settled portions of New En-
gland and the middle states there are numer-
Gus farms which have become so thoroughly
run out that it is difficult to make them
produce enough to pay for cultivation. Ma
ny of these farms were originally productive
and valuable and might again become 30,
could they be restored to fertility. To pur-
chase fertilizers or manure for Tenovating
these farms would cost 30 much that few who
own them would feel that they could afford
the necessary expense. II is desired to call
attention to the value of sheep for removal
ing worn. out land. Sheep can obtain their
living from land so poor that cattle could
scarcely live, and the land will become more
and more productive each year. Sheep ex
haust the land the least of almost any prod
uct the farmer can raise and sell. BY COM
pairing the value of tho fertilizing elements
removed from the soil, and the market value
of various products sold from the farm, it
will be seen that sheep possess an advantage
over most of the others. One ton OF good
hay removes from the soil fertiizing elements
worth over $40 and sells for from $l5 to
$50; one ton of clover removes fertilzng
elements worth Sl2 and sells for about the
same; one ton of oats removes nearly $l2
worth, and sells for about $25 or $50; one
ton of corn, $40 worth, and sells for about
SO while one ton of fat live sheep removes
about Sl3 worth of fertilizing elements and
sells for from 800 to $40. Thus it will be
seen that in proportion to the market value
fat sheep remove much Less from the soil
than either hay or grain.
A few instances of what sheep will do in
the way Of improving and enrichiDg land
will be of interest in this connection. In the
report of the Maine board of agriculture for
1870, it is stated that ii. q. Abbott of Vas
scarborough, Me-, had a moving field OF 40
acres covered with white weed, yellow weed
and very much killed out He turned out
ten acres Of it for pasture and placed 80 sheep
upon it and allowed them to feed it two
years The third year he moved it and OBJ
tanned the heaviest crop of hay that he had
ever grown with any amount of dressing.
Timothy and redtop came in, and in some
places the clover was 80 heavy that the NOV.
ing machine could not be used. II Was moved
several years and continued to yield heavy
crops of hay. A New York farmer bought a
3S0.acre worn-out hay farm which yielded
only II loads of hay, 40 acres of rye pro-
duced 400 bushels Of rye, % acres OF corn
yielded only 500 bushels, and the rest of the
farm pastured a span of horses, four oxen
and COW. The land WAS too poor to pro-
duce red clover. The farm was stocked with
sheep and in 90 years had become 80 much
improved that it produced 600 tons of hay,
| 40 acres of corn yielded 80 bushels per acre ;
30 acres of wheat, IL bushels per acre and
there were 30 acres in oats, eight acres in
roots, and 300 sheep were also pastured on il.
As soon az the land had become rich enough
TO produce red clover, that was sown, and
after that the improvement was rapid. 1t ID
said that there are cases in Vermont where
sheep farmers have been compelled TO absn-
don one farm after another as they became
too fertile for profitable sheep growing. En-.
gland, by the aid Of sheep husbsndry, has
been enabled to increase the productivenest
of the soil so that the lands which in the
time of Elizabeth produced only six and q
half bushels per acre on the average, now
| average over 30 bushels per acre.
Lands which are already rich and produc
tive are by the presence of sheep made richer
and more productive. Hon. George Geddes
whom Horace Greeley used to regard as the
highest authority on agricultural matters in
New York state, ane who has raised sheep il
connection with raising wheat for many years
says that with one sheep to the acre of Guilt
waited land, pasture and meadows, he raises
more bushels of grain on the average than he
did before he had sheep to manufacture the
coarse fodder into manure to enrich his pas
lures preparatory to the grain crop that the
land is constantly improving and the crop in
creasing, and that, while producing crops Of
less acres and at less cost than he did befor,
he kept sheep, he has in addition the wool anC
I mutton of the sheep. Even farmers on the
rich farms of the west find il advantageous L
| keep sheep for their renOvating influence OF
the soil. A Wisconsin farmer finds that b,
keeping sheep he is able to raise % bushe
of wheat per acre. while the average yield o.
wheat in the state is only 10 bushels an acre
Wornout land in the south, by pasturinl
sheep, can be renovated in a few years 30 a
to become very productive. There are few
farms which would not be made more fertil
and productive by sheep husbandry. In Hol
land, where nearly all the farms are rich a
gardens, sheep are kept ON nearly every on
| of them.
Sheep are very beneficial in the wav o
killing out bushes and briers, besides inoreas
ing fertility. Many plants which cattle ant
horses refuse to eat, sheep relish hence II il
very beneficial to pastures TO have few sheer
in them, to keep in check the plants which
other stock refuse to eat. In a report of tn,
Housatonic Mass. agricultural society W,
find the following in regard to the beneficial
effects of sheep: IF judiciously managed
they will improve our lands greatly and speed
lily. Wherever a sheep lies down-if it has
reasonable amount Of room the grass spring
up. They furnish the cheapest means 70
clearing up old pastures which under a sys
tenn of exclusive cattle husbandry are becOm
ing overgrown with mOsses weeds and brierg
They make short work with such rubbish, anC
bring in its place white clover aud the fine
English grasses. Sheep husbandry il th
true method of renovation for most of on
hill farms, now run down from the continued
pasturing of cattle IL the berkshire hill
were situated in any of the old agriculture
countries of Europe, they would be crowde,
with hocks. When an English farmer rent
farm 1t Is generally made n condition OF tn
lease that he keep certain number OF sheer
for the benefit of the land" There are few
! farma that would moi ma hsn.6t.d ky a..