The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-03-26

of the very best tiage land and about 200
acres Of grass pasture. Half of this island is
heavily wooded with spruce, fir, birch. maple,
&c. The island is open on the east to the full
ocean, which rolls in thousands of cords of
sea-weed. The seasons are much mder than
on the mainland. Upon this island Mr. Long
fellow has a flock of some two hundred and
seventy-hve sheep, mixed class of sheep
having some of the characteristics of the South
down and Merino, with some of the coarse
Wooed breeds. These sheep run on the island
summer and winter, being divided into flocks
of about twenty-five to thirty each, and are
kept in an inclosure where they can get to the
shore for sea weed, and into the woods for
shelter. Their living in winter is chiefly some
of the varieties of sea-weed. principally what is
called dalse. They also eat the branches of
nearly all the trees that grow on the island. In
regard to other details of winter-keeping on
the island Mr.. Longfellow writes:
THE sheep like fir better than spruce, are
very fond of mountain ash, eating branches as
large ones finger. The bark of the elder is
also a favorite food, and raspberry, also the
moss from old STUN and logs. | had flock
in my field one winter; the snow came deep in
March. and | used to carry out hay to them,
about 90 pounds daily TO fifty sheep. After
while they would come up near the barn for it.
Sometimes some of the sheep from the other
parts of the island would come up where they
were eating. but would only take few mouth
fuls and then leave it. l have several times
taken tegs to the barn that We're poor and
weak, but they almost always die. 1t seems to
be hard for them to get through the first win
ter; after that they are all right. The wethers
keep fat all winter. Some losses occur from
the sheep getting washed off the rocks by the
approaching tide, but such losses are not so
common as one would suppose. My sheep
commence lambng in March, and get through
by the first of May. | find these early lambs
are harder than late ones. They will stand
snow-storm better than cold rain, and by
coming early the lambs are better able to stand
the winter, and the ewes wean the lambs time
enough to get recruited before cold weather.
Few sheep are lost by disease. The mutton Of
these island sheep is very superior. 1t has
none of The mutton taste so many dislike, but
resembles venison."
Mr.. Longfeow may be called veteran in
the business, the details of his sheep-farming
having been given to the public first in the bull
letin of the National Association of Wool
Manufacturers, as early as 1874 (Nol. v, p.
1879
A more recent contribution to this same sub
ject is found in the experience of Mr.. John P.
Wentworth, of East Knox. This gentleman
purchased in July, 1882, an island known as
Dyer's Island, which comprises some 800 acres.
and is part OF the town of Harrington, WASH
ington County. 1t is located one and fourth
miles from the steamboat wharf in Millbrdge.
large portion of this island is covered with
forest of mixed growth of birch and fir. When
the purchase of this island was made, Mr..
Wentworth also purchased all the sheep upon
the island, some two hundred in number. all
raised on the island; indeed, sheep have been
kept on this island for period of fifteen years,
without any artificial food or protection, graz
ing in the fine pasture in summer and in VIM
ter subsisting on the kel p and sea-moss, found
in great abundance on the shores, which is
very nutritious, and of which the sheep are
very fond. In April, previous to purchasing
the island in June, Mr.. Wentworth made
careful inspection of the sheep upon it, and
found them in much better condition than his
own flock at home, which had been cared for
and fed with early cut hay, and the wethers
were then good mutton On visiting the is
land i'll January the sheep were also in good
condition. 1t is Mr.. Wentworth's plan to i'm
prove the flock by the use of fine wool rams ;
and of the success of his enterprise there can
be no question. In one particular the advan-
tages of this system of sheep hu>bandry is APP
parent in the absence of loss and injury from
dogs, which. in the older counties of the State,
is one of the great hindrances 10 profitable
sheep husbandry. Another consideration is in
the fine quality of the mutton, which devoid of
the strong flavor sometimes present in mutton,
always commands high price in market wheE
its fine character is known. With the hun
dreds of islands on the Maine coast, favoraby
situated for this business, sea-isand sheep
farming is likely to assume great Importance in
the future agricul tura economy of the State.