The Indiana State sentinel., 1885-06-10
OUR FARM BUDGET.
How Sheep. Raising Is Made Prof.
liable In England.
Can Bees Commit TresspRss-DOmestic
Vinegar Making Nitrate Of
Soda Prizes.
The Quality of WoOds-A Farmers Views
AbOut Bired Help-A True Hen
Story-HOusehOld aints-
Farm Notes.
How shsep-Kaising is Made Profitable in

England.
Philadelphia Record
II ia q iwell-kHown fact that while many
farmers in this country give but little atten-
tion to the sheep, IN England it is styled
''the animal that pays the rent" Farms in
England are often rented at figures greater
than the cost of purchase here, and without
sheep farming in that country would result
in considerable loss. By comparing the
methods practictd in both countries il will
be noticed, in the first place, that we give
greater attention to wool than 10 carcass,
which is quite the reverse OF the method prac-
ticed by the English farmers. We select the
msrincs, compete with Australia, a.d yet
complain that unless protected by tariff
sheep-rasing must be abandoned. The Eng.
lish farmer, on the contrary, breeds princi-
pally for mutton, making wool secondary
consideration; but in raising sheep he makes
o small area product a large anoun. OF
choice, high-priced meat. he POSSESSES no
advantage over our farmer, but pursues an
altogether different method.
TIE common practice in America is to
turn the sheep out on pasture, feeding grain
whenever necessary. As but few special
crops are grown for their benefit, the sheep
are allowed ample range, and are expected
to forsge over q large surface, which neces-
farily compels our farmers to devote more
space to each sheep than many of them can
afford. In England the pastures are con-
sidered too valuable to be devoted 70 sheep
without soms method of restriction, and
they are hurdled on small areas. Nor doss
the English farmer depend upon his pastures
entirely for sheep, as he is compelled to Sc.
cure crop of winter hay. He sows turnips
on plot, turns in the sheep SIS soou IS the
crop is large enough, and while they are
supplying themselves be has another crop
growing to which he removes the sheep as
soon as the first crop is eaten. In this wsy
he continually grows quickly-maturing
crops and char ges his movable hurdles fie
quently. Large numbers of cabbages are
also grown for sheep, and every foot Of
land is mace to produce something
They estimate that an acre will prod0cs
1900 cabbsges, which will keep 100 sheep
for twenty-four days. The csbbages are snme.
times feu to the sheep from the cabbage fl aid,
and number are laid eside for winter. Rye
Is used as an early grass in the spring, aud
wheat, barley and oats are also sown for the
sheep to Craze upon. Even the regular grain
crops are nipped by the sheep for awhile in
their early stages.
we nave greater RQYaQIageS IOr lurQu0g g
sheep in this country than are possessed by
the English farmer, although he can produce
more turnips and other root crops. If our
farmers will practice the English system of
hurdliDg they can pasture on rye early in
the spring. which should be sovn in the fall
for that purpose. Oats may follow, and next
peas. As the season advances Hungarian
grass and Indian corn may be sown, to
which the sheep should be allowed access
as soon as the crops are q few inches
high, as sheep prefer short grazing. The
use of clover has not been suggested
since it is not adapted to all sections,
and is slow in making q stand. We can
also use turnips and other roots, tops and
bulbs being serYiceabie, while sorghum,
kale, mustard and cabbage may be utilized,
as it will not be necessary for any crop to
mature. When the sheep have cleared off
one piece, and are changed to another, the
plot from which they are removed may be
sown to something else.
But it is not from the sales of wool and
mutton alone that the English farmer de-
rives his profit. His reason for hurdling is
that he manures his land by the sheep. 1t is
estimated that 100 sheep hurdlsd upon one
acre for fifteen days will so enrich the soil
as to enable II TO produce four crope This
has been satisfactorily proved, and in this
country vorn.out coils have been recupsr-
ated and made fertile by confining sheep
upon them, though in such cases the sheep
were fed for a while. The droppings from
sheep are rich in nitrogen, and being uni
formly spread and trampled into the soil,
every portion is benefited, and, as the earth
is an absorbent, but little loss of available
manurial matter occurs.