Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-05-07
NOTES ron FARMERS.
From the West Virginia Agricultural
Experiment Station.
sHrEp INDUSTRY.

the attention OF farmers IS called TO
the desirability of improving their
flocks, especially If they are raising
sheep for wool. In order to make
this Improvement, it il desirable to
Gull from the flock all sheep falling
below certain grade and weight Of
fleece adopted as a standard by the
farmer.
Sheep shearing time is the best
scassn of the year for determining
which animals should be disposed Of,
and which keptfor breeding purposes.
The flock can also be readily graded
with reference to its physical condi
ton, and all animals indicating sig
Of weakness or of being run down or
diseased should be separated from the
larges flock, and receive spec
special attention from the farm
er until they can be built up
to normal condition. The farmer,
by devoting special care to his flock
at this time, and marking the AMI
mails falling below the standard so
that he may readily separate them
later, il he desires, can very soon i'm
prove the quality and quantity of
wool produced upon his farm, es-
pecially shonld he dispose of the
sheep falling below the proper stand
ard, and secure others of proper
standard to take their place.
SHEEP PARASITES AND DISEASES.
Sheep shearing time is the best for
treating the sheep for scab, lice, ticks
and foot-rot. Every sheep that is
affected with scab, or any of these
pests, should receive vigorous and
thorough treatment at this time.
One of the best remedies for scab,
lice ard ticks is the infusion of to-
bacco leaves (made by sleeping about
20 pounds of tobacco leaves in %
gallon of water), and making this So
luton up to barrels. To this may
be added six pounds of concentrated
I've, and quarts of pure tar. The
I've should be dissolved in another
vessel in 10 gallons of boiling water.
The tar is then added and the whole
brought to boiling. Six pounds OF
unslacked lime may also be added to
this mixture. Stir vigorously and
then mix with the tobacco wash. As
soon as the diseased sheep is shear
ed, it should be plunged into this
liquid, and the liquid rubbed in thor
oughIy to the skin of the animal
This wash should be kept at a tenn.
perature of about 100 degrees Fahr..
or warm enough to be about COM
Portable to the hands. If the farm
er does not care to dip the animal
into this solution, it can be applied
with sponge by laying it upon 9
board. and sponging the animal all
over with it. One thor ough treat
ment of the sheep with this wash
will generally rid them at this sea
son of the year of scab, lice and
ticks.
FOOT ROT.
If foot-rot be in the flock, the
boots should be thoroughly pared
close, and the proper remedy thor
oughly applied for this disease.
MOST farmers know of satisfactory
remedies for the disease. Nitric
acid, sulphuric acid, burnt alum,
butter of anthony, powdered blue
vitriol and other remedies having
been successfully applied. One of
the cheapest and best is chloride of
lime or bleaching salt, which should
be applied by sticking the animals
foot in the powder or paste and al
lowing as much as will cling to the
foot to remain between the toes
and around the hoof. Take time
now to look thoroughly after the
sheep, and be sure that all of them
are carefully inspected.
THE DISEASES OF SHEEP.
1t is apparent, from information
received at this Station, from many
sections OF the State, that the dis
eases and parasites of sheep are up
on the increase, and it is very de-
sirable that all flock owners should
give this subject their careful atten-
ton at this time of the year. By so
doing, many thousands of dollars
will be saved to the State during the
next year, and the trouble checked.
which bids fair to annoy sheep own
ers for years if there is not careful
attention bestowed upon it.
JOHN A. MYERS, Director.
Morgantown. w. Va. April 30th,