The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-09-25
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
ONE WHO BELIEVES IN SHEEP
ON THE FARM.
A Few Suggestions For Making the
Farm Pay-Feeding Live Stock
Farm Notes and Items
For Domestic Use.
Sheep Values on the Farm.

uAoUACUo VI tnS Country WOclQ soon
convince one that sheep are Of in
estimable value in keeping up the
fertility of the soil. In England the
fine breeds of sheep come in for their
share in the intensive farming of the
country, and a recent writer on farm
matters makes the assertion that a
great deal of the fertility of the soil
there is due directly to the flocks. In
clearing and renovating old fields the
value of the flock cannot be over
looked, and there are many poor
brier, bushy farms in this country that
could be greatly enhanced in value by
letting the sheep roam over the fields.
A few farmers may consider the
sheep a nuisance after they are
sheared, and then turn them out into
the wilderness to find foods in the
wilds of other sections. By so doing
they rob themselves of a great good.
A poor field could soon be brought up
to a high state of cultivation by plac-
ing sheep in it. The flock will soon
free such places of all briars and
weeds.
While the sheep are of great value
in keeping down the briers bushes
and weeds, it should also be remem-
oered that they are kept for other
purposes as well. Wool and mutton
growing are really the chief objects in
view, although some farmers may be
induced to keep a few sheep for the
good which they do to their soil and
lands.
Proper feeding during summer is of
particular Importance in fattening
sheep. and if this is done rightly the
greatest good will be obtained from
the food. An important point in feed
ing sheep is the relative portion of
water in the food required to get the
best advantage. This is a subject
that many flockmasters fail to think
about. A good fattening fodder must
not be too watery, and large quantities
of brewers or distillers' grains. or
even roots, are of far less benefit to
these animals than to cattle. Feeding
too heavily upon roots is not beneficial,
for they are very watery, although the
English turnip plays an important
part in the fodder OF the English sys-
tenn. In this country, however. the
roots have not yet been fed in sufficient
quantity to do any harm, but on the
contrary they have not been fed
enough.
Potatoes allow a pretty fair ratio
between water and total dry matter,
and they should be fed along with
grains, grass and hay. Sheep are
rather particular in their food, and
they will not eat anything distasteful
to them until forced to it by hunger.
But with a little judicious care the
odds and ends on the farm can be fed
to them in such way as to make a
good cheap fodder. If there is an
abundance of small potatoes or roots
to give to them, do not feed them too
literally to the exclusion of grass, hay
and grain, but feed them out gradual
~ along with the other fodder. In
this way the flock will be made to do
better, and many odds and ends will
be eaten up that must gather on every
farm. e. P. Smith in the American
CultivatOr.
The Trained Colt.
We have two-year-old gelding off
spring of as vicious mother as ever
kicked at the stars. She was simply
a perfect example of horse total de-
pravity. She would kick with her
hind legs if you but touched one of
them. she would strike with all the
precision and force of a John L. Sulli-
van if you attempted to handle her fore
feet. and if neither of these methods
of attack were practicable she would
bite with all the strength and force of
the woman with the iron jaw. The
Plowman has on many occasions mar
rowly escaped losing it's editor as a
result of trying to christianize this
mare. With such mother the colt
we allude to was regarded as a good
subject for experiment. His training
was begun within week from the day
that he discovered America. It was
made a part of the duty of the day to
handle this colt carefully. Every leg
was lifted, and if he showed any dis
position to kick or strike sharp switch
was kept in readiness to follow the
kick with cut. Still, kindness was
the ruling principle in the system of
training employed.
He was given to understand that mo-
body intended to hurt him, but that he
must positively must, submit quietly
to any handling we subjected him to.
Nobody was allowed to tease or trifle
with him in any way. He has been
brought up as a pet. He is not afraid
of anybody, because he has never had
any cause to be afraid. We began
Harvesting him when he was year
old, and now he will stand like an old
horse and submit quietly to the harness
being put on, adjusted and readjusted,
seeming to take it all as a matter of
course. This colt has never been
broken. He will never have to be. He
has simply been trained in the way he
should go. He looks upon us as his
companions and friends. and we have
only to make him understand what we
want him to do and he will cheerfully
and freely do it. Coming from SO
vicious a mother we regard this colt
as a striking example of the efficacy of
kindness Some claim that IL is I'M