Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-09-11
Advice on Sheep Raising by an EXpe-
rienced Breeder.

rienced Breeder.
NV choice is for dry, sloping, south
hillside, avoiding low, cold, damp ground
as much as possible, writes A. o. Fox in
the Sheep Breeder There should be no
diminution in the quantity of the grain or
hay fed to the brood ewes, until they have
been some weeks upon the pasture, and
that the pasture has got strong and able to
sustain them, otherwise the ewes are liza
BILE to lose in condition very rapidly. On
being turned out to grass there is no doubt
the first grass they receive is very benefi-
cial to them on account of the cooling al
terative effect it has upon the system.
But the mistake should not be made of al
lowing the ewes to rely upon this for their
sustenance at time when it is little better
than water itself AS the season advances
and the flock of ewes and lambs have been
turned out upon the pasture permanently,
there is perhaps no condition upon which
their thrift and prosperity depends more
than that of frequently changing pastures.
No matter how large the field is, or how
small the flock, there is absolutely nothing
so conducive to the thrift and health of
sheep as change. Nothing so delights a
sheep after having passed week or two
upon prairie pasture as to be turned over
into timber lot to pick up the many It'd
bits which the horses and cattle would
scOrn to look at, but which is the sleeps
delight to pick from among the bushes and
shrubs in the woods. BY carefully sowing
broadcast a little common salt over these
brushy places in the woods, it is marvellous
to observe the renOvating effect that may
be produced by flock of sheep, in reduc-
ing to cleanliness and order wilderness
of brushes and weeds. As soon as the
haying season is over and the meadows
have been cut the flock may be again re-
moved on to the tender aftermath of clover
and timothy which springs up a fortnight
after the fields have been cut. This short
sweet bite is the best and sweetest in the
world for the little lambs and is so tender
and juicy as to be very easily digested.
pasture of old long grass should always
be avoided for the ewes and lambs, and in
fact for all kinds of sheep. This long grass
holds too much dampness about the roots
and affords convenient harbors for the in
sects which produce pin worms so common
among and so disastrous to lambs in wet
seasons.
At weaving time probably the incest
place to put lambs is upon an aftermath OF
clover and timothy, providing it has not
been allowed to get too long and deep.
Here they may remain until the early frosts
affect the quality. After weaving it is
usually best to give moderate grain ration
throughout the fall to the lambs; this
approve of generally, although in some
instances | think lambs will do quite as
we'll without grain for certain length OF
time and appreciate it far more, and dc
better on it, when they receive it later III
the season. This, however, depends much
upon the season and condition of the feed,
just at the time that the lambs are weaned
the ewes should be placed upon rather
poor, light pasture and their udders care,
fully watched until the milk is nicely dried
up, generally once or twice milking out
will suffice for most of the ewes and some
will not require any. When some are
troublesome to dry little vinegar rubbed
into the udder usually suffices.
Just at this time is one of the most crit
ical periods i'm each years life of the fiock
Atweaning time is the time when the tloci
should be sorted TO find the material whlcl
is to be retained on the farm, to form th'
basis of next years breeding flock, and t'