St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-16
SHEEP IN OHIO.
What Some OF the Farmers aave
to Say at Their Meetings.

''The Relation of Sheep to the Butler
County FARM was discussed first by
Mr.. Elliott.
He advocated raising sheep. not as a
speciality, but something on the princi-
pie of the thrifty German who ate only
such things as he could not sell. Sheep
can live on what no other stock but
goats will eat. They may be probably
kept on every farm. First. because they
will live on what other stock leave.
Second, they are Scavengers on the
pasture lots and wood pastures. where
they kill out sprouts and noxiouS weeds.
They eat plants which horses and cattle
do not touch. Third, we can raise sheep
on land not suited to horses, cattle or
hogs. Knobs and dry. billy land are the
sleeps delight, and they live where
other stock would starye.
He was, perhaps, little enthusiastic
in his claim that one can raise sheep
after every steer or horse and not feel
the cost We can average a lamb to
ought to pay for its keep and we have
lambs as the profit of the flock. Sheep
are nice thing to have around farm
or home. if you do not have too many.
Mr.. Bonham said that he could not
advocate keeping sheep to live off the
refuse. He had found sheep about as
dainty as any other stock. and enjoyed
and repaid good care and good proven
der as well as cows OF horses. But it is
true they have fondness for weeds
and sprouts which other stock will not
touch, and can live on shorter pasture,
and rougher. rocker land than can
other stock. If one is so unfortunate
as to own such land he may find COM
fort in sheep.
He has found sheep profitable, even
with wool at 90 cents; but, tariff or no
tariff. we want good sheep and good
care to make them pay. In the late
summer or early fall, when pasture is
short, he had turned CotSwOld sheep
into cornfields. and they did exccliently.
They ate the lower blades, the seeds of
cat-tail grass, of pig weeds, etc. In
fact, they ate only such things as are
of no value, and such as no pig or calf
would eat.
But they will get taste of corn and
devote themselves to that, if one is not
careful to turn them in only during the
day. Bring them out at night, and they
may not destroy corn, and they can
clean up the fence rows and stray
weeds and lower blades of corn-stalks
Mr.. OtStott said that when he consid-
cred the receipts and risks and cost of
keep he found sheep to pay as well as
any stock he could handle. We can
count on twenty-five bushels of corn,
with grass and clover as a relish, to
grow 100 pounds of pork, which at $3.50,
an average price, is poor pay for corn
alone, to say nothing of the grass, clover
and other things the pig must have.
We can make S. from every head of
sheep each year If we manage them
well. They are less liable to disease
than hogs. A poor man cannot afford
to take the risk on hogs.
Pampering up stock is as likely to in
duce disease as neglect. Six head of
sheep will do we'll on the feed required
by one cow. Unless ore has a good
market for butter or milk, sheep and
colts will pay far better than cows.
With a straw stack. and a good armful
Of hay each day. he kept during the
past winter fifteen sheep and two colts
in good. thriving condition.
Mr.. Lintner said there is another
thing to say in favor of sheep. They
are the only stock protected by the gov
ernnent. They are doubly protected:
First. the county protects them against
the rayages of dogs; second, the gov
eminent protects the wool crop. If they
pay better than other stock, live on less
and on what would go to waste, it looks
like the farmer had a bonanza in sheep.
Mr.. B0nham said that there is no bust
ness more easily 0verdone. The num-
Der can be doubled in year if con-
sumption ceases. If the price gets high
everybody raises sheep, and as cholera
does not destroy them to keep down in
crease, the supply easily exceeds de-
mand.
1t takes deal of bolstering to keep
the price of mntton and wool up to q
paying point.
Mr.. McCImtock-He does not like to
have sheep on his pastures, as cattle do
not like them after sheep. Cattle will
keep down sprouts, and as to weeds. he
cuts them awhile, and the blue grass
takes their place. Cattle do not Craze
SO close as to damage pastures, but