Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-11-20
FLOCKMASTERS' MISTAKES.
The Danger of Ovsr.toclsing-Other seri-
Gus Evils.

The Danger of OVsrstoClking-Other seri-
Gus Evils.
WrinsR Tor ihs Register.
One great mistake that many new be-
ginners make in sheep husbsndry make it
in overstoekiug They see their neighbOr,
An old hand in the business, carrying from
3 to 5 sheen to the acre the Year around,
and naturally conclude that they can do
the same. While the neighbOr has proba-
bly, been years reaching that point, the
nsw man often expects to reach 1t at one
jump. lie stocks up full and wakes up
some fne morning TO find the pastures bare
and the barn empty and flock Of sheep
bsaing for something 10 eat. To an intX
perienced farmer one sheep appears 10 eat
very little, one hundred TO eat IA moderate
quantity, but he will be dumbfounded at
the amount 500 to 200 can eat.
In my acquaintance men have condemns
ed sheep Tor this very reason; their pas
lures were new and the grass thin and ten
der-they put enough sheep On to keep
down IN old, heavy Sod and then expected
them 10 live the year around, or nearly so.
The result was the sheep ate the grass out
by the Realistically by the roOts-and
what would in few years, with light
pasturiDg, have been good sod,
was completely nibbled TO the bare
ground and had Ia he broken up
and seeded again. Besides the injury to
the land, the sheep showed mp a light
flsece aud gaunt frame. Now, who was
TO blame. the sheep or the shepherd l
say tbs shepherd, bat the parties have
IN mind blamed the shsep. Another
man, an old farmer and cattle raiser. got
the sheep fever, bought a large tioak,
turned them on What was really gcO1
pasture, but not nearly sufficient for the
SIZE of the flock, and with the usual result
of hungry, starving sheep; disgusleo
farmer, a sacrifice sale, and the Inevitable
condemnation OF the business-whereas II
that same man had commenced with a
small flock, aud added to them gradually
as he found what hts PASTURES would
carry, the result would have been entirely
different l. is fact within my personal
experience that sheep VII cause grass to
grow 90 poor points and thin places In the
fields by their resting there az nights ana
By their thoroughly scattered dropplngs
that under pasluring with other animals
would produce nothing, provided the field
was stocked within season and given an
occasional rest Grass IL plant that re-
cuperates very quickly when given
chance but will quickly suCclmb to bad
treatment especially when Young ana
greater varieter of natural grass springs
uo in the field properly pasiured win
sheep than after other animals, while Cd
noxious plants are kept in subsection. But
the idea that many amateur tOck-masters
have that the sheep will exterminste brlers,
elders and other rank growing and OH ct
ionable plants is another mistake, and one
that has cost many sheep an empty
stomach and fnal death. Whenever yOn
try to make the sheep kill the brisrs tne
briars are very likely TO kill the sheep
That the sheep are a great help IN riddipg
a field of briars 1 do OF deny, as they vii
bite of the tender shoots, bat they must
be aided by a good scythe, iddiclocsiy
used By a stout man, else the briara VIII
finally come of victorious. l make 10
practice to 20 over all my pastures duHng
the months Of July and August and ca'
all such growth az briars, elders, spronis.
thistles. mullen and other innumerahle en-
emies of a good pasture, and see THAI me
fence corners and steep banks are eui
clean. By folio ging this up yearly, and
backed mp constantly by the sheep have
have changed many rough, torbid1ing
banks aud hollows into more Sights and
profab grassy slopes. Bat eternal Wig
ilAr ce is required. though the task
grows lighter each year, and the satleiac-
ton of having smooth gfeen fields Is 10
small item Another m stake that many
aockmasters fall into is the idea that sheep
10 not require any water. True, havs
\ KEEP. f1cks on pIssurs for as long a. 6
month al a timo without water, hut II
was only By stern necessity, and l know
nv sheep would have thrived better with
water Welhers and dry ewes caD get
through "A drought with what dew falls
upon the grass, but suckling ewes VIII
5000 90 dry without constant supply
of water, much to the detriment and
often 'ois, OF the lambs. But IN winter
| they must all have water, II possible, else
they form the Objectionable habit OF snow
eatiug-a habit which produces disorders
Of the stomach and generally nnthriity
appearance of The sheep, and one which Is
constantly irdulged in by the victim at
every opportunity.
TIMOTHY HAYsEED.