The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-08
Nexlectine sheen.


Ncglecting sheep.
In most cases sheep are neglected to
a greater extent than any other animals
that are kept on the farm. Work
horses are generally well sheltered, fed,
and cared for. They are protected
from the cold and from storms; are al
lowed oats and corn in additionato the
best hay produced on the farm; are sup
piled with water several times each day;
are curried and brushed every morning
and evening, and covered with blankets
whenever it is very cold and they have
been at work in the field or on the road.
Breeding mares also receive much care
and attention, as their owners are con-
stantly thinking about the profit to be
derived from their colts. Since dairy
ing has become a profitable industry
the owners of milch COWS generally
take excellent care of them. They
have ascertained that Kindness protec-
tion against storms, liberal feeding,
pains in supplying pure water, and
furnishing salt at proper times pay.
No dairy farmer can afford to treat his
COWS with neglect. Those who raise
cattle for beef find it profitable
to keep them comfortable at
all times. They notice that
their gain is in proportion to the food
they consume and the care they receive.
They have learned that early maturity
is one of the results of attention and
liberal feeding.
A visit to any breeding farm shows
that all the animals are well housed
bountifully fed, and carefully tended
They are kept in buildings that many
poor families would like to occupy.
The pastures where they feed in sum
mer contain variety OF grass and
clover, and are supplied with pure, cold
water conducted from springs or drawn
from wells. The animals are not
obliged to travel half mile to obtain
IA drink and then quench their thirst at
some stagnant pool. There are open
! sheds where they can stand when the
/ sun is hot, and trees that afford !, cool
ing shade. The object OF every feeder
is to improve the quality of the animals
| he keeps. Even swine-raisers have dis
covered the advantages of protection,
cleanliness, good food, and proper care
for the despised hog. One does not
often see now pigs running in the road
or wallowing in the mud of cutters.
During the summer they are ordinarily
in clover pastures that are provided
with shade trees and watering -troughs.
At other times of the year they are
kept in clean yards or covered pens.
Next to the horse, the hog has the best
food raised on the farm. The hog is
no longer the scavenger of the farm.
He has clean food to eat, pure water to
drink, and q dry place to sleep on.
Even his comfort is looked after.
But the sheep, the most tender as
kept on the farm, are the ones that are
the most neglected. 1t appears to be
the general opinion that any kind of
land is good enough for a sheep pas
ture. A land grant railway company
after it has disposed of all its lands
that are thought to be of any value for
cultivation or for grazing cattle and
horses advertises the remainder ''suit-
able for sheep-raising. Knowing that
sheep husbandry has prospered in Scot
land and Vermont, while it has declin-
ed in most of the states having very
productive soil. some people have ar
rived at the conclusion that lodges and
rocks, sand banks, huge bowlders.
cobble-stones, and stunted bushes are
excellent for sheep. They have also
learned that deep SHOWS. severe storms,
and long winters are very favorable to
success in sheep-raising. Many seem
to think that the land they occupy is
not well adapted to sheep because it
produces good crops of grass and is
free from stones, stumps, and bushes.
If they keep any sheep it is for the
purpose of utilizing some land that is
too rocky and barren to produce paying
crops that require cultivation and
which is of very little value for pastur-
ing cattle and horses. Someone has
said that ''the worst pun is the best
one," and many seem to think that the
poorest land for other purposes is the
best for sheep.
Few persons seem to think that it is
necessary or even advisable to improve
a sheep pasture. They believe tina,
these animals can ''pick up living on
land where any kinds of vegetation
grow. How to keep sheep withou,
any cost is a problem that many per
sons have been trying to solve. Vol.
umes have been written to prove that
sheep will live for months witnou
water, providing they are in a regior
where there are heavy dcws. Few
: sheep-raisers are at the trouble and ex
pense Of sinking wells and putting il
pumps operated by wind-power for. th,
purpose of raising water for their focks
If there is creek or pool within half .
mile they will oblige sheep TO 60 to i
to obtain drink. Some think that the,
should be satisfied with the moisture
supplied by dew. as humming birds are
Every few months someone .'rushe
into print" to .declare that sheep will
live for years without salt. The straw
of wheat. barley, rye and flax is though
to be good enough for sheep durin;
winter. They advocate allowing then
to remain in rocky pasture till tn
. frost kills and the snow covers th
grass, and they return them to thi
place early in the spring for fear tho
the hay will not ''hold OUT for the cat
r tie and horses. During all the yea
they complain that ..the bottom ha
$ fallen OUT of the wool business. -Ch
: cago Times.
n What and When to Eat" is the title of q
c exchange. The "when" never gave US ar