The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-17
Practical Sheep Husbandry.


herd should not forget that they have
practically three months longer growth
of wool on them than their dams, and
are, therefore, more likely to become
foul and fall victims to the ubiquitous,
detestsble maggots. The little wethers
should be carefully clipped around the
pizzles aud the eve lambs about the
vents. If any one of either sex is found
particularly inclined to foul, it should
be lightly touched with tar.
Where clover is sown on wheat and
comes on very rank after harvest it is
best to NOW and cure it. This leaves
the ground clean for next years now
ing, and the sheep will readily sort the
clover from the wheat stubble when fed
to them. II the soil is very rich and
the season rainy, however, clover rowen
is not safe fodder for sheep. We have
had animals killed by it, and large
number in the flock were badly "slob-
bered " and sickened by it.
II the rams are not kept Close to
headquarters, where they can be seen
daily by the owner, they ought to be
put in thoroughly safe condition, to
insure them against the attacks of mag.
gots. Ii is surprising 10 he novice how
soon these ahominable vern in will drag
down and kill a powerful ram if neg
lecttd. The wool ought to be clipped
off close around the base of the horns,
for an inch or more out all around, com
pleting The work with pair Of scissors.
Then apply light smear of fresh, soft
tar, not enough to dribble down over
the fleece, but working it thoroughly
into every Granny aud wrinkle. Do the
same about the pizzle if it is at all foul.
1t is often the case that there are
patches in the cattle pasture too rank
TO be eaten q, en-. 1t is great i'm.
provement to the looks of The farm to
run the mower over these, and 70 will
pay to cure the trash for
sheep. A certain portion OF weeds and
bitter stuff, rsgweeds, morning glory,
docks, etc, will be more acceptable to
sheep occasionally than an unbroken
re gimen of clear timothy. 1t is the
rigid economy Of the French farmer
which always provides him with some
money in his pocket, and makes that
nation financially the strongest in
Europe. " Economy is the first thing"
is the French farmers motto.
OF the 1,2l5,000 men engaged in the
sheep and wool industry in the United
States, and r. presenting capital of
500 900 700, It Is safe to say that 600. !
900 of them are pledged to vote against
free wool men ana measures at the |
November elections, and will redeem
their pledges with exceeding relish.
Do not be i'll "a hurry when you salt
your sheep, but stand and watch then
closely for ten or fifteen minutes.
Have the crook in hand, and if you see
one limp even little, catch and ex-
anime it. The chances are there is
only touch of scaldfoot, which a lit
lie cleaning out and sprinkle of pow
dered blue stone will omedy. But the |
chances also are that, if you did not at
end to it, by next week there would be
liberation and maggots; then you
" ould have TO fight for weeks to get |
he animal cured up. The best way 10 |
catch sheep in the field is not TO put |
lown any salt at first, but let them |
cluster around you until the one you
want gets close enough, then pick him
Up with the crook.
Catch up your mutton overnight,
hen butcher in the cool of the morn
ng, without heating it up with chase
and struggle.
Remember no "sheepy" mutton or
'cowy'' milk is made by external con.
act with anything whatever, but by
he internal bad condition of the ami.
nal itself. When the animal is on the
Town grade it will give vitated pro-
luct; on the up grade it will yield
,ure one.
In the latitude of southern Ohio,
where frost does not generally fall be
ore the last week of September, crop
# Hungarian grass may be grown after
he middle of July. 1t takes only abou
evenly days to come to maturity when
,ro%ing i'll midsummer. For sheep it
s better anyhow not to allow it to de-
elOp beads, as these are so large that
ither the leaves become worthless for
Jay by bleaching, or else the heads are
incurred and mould. 1t is best to cut
hungarian grass for sheep hay as soon
s the heads begin to make their ap-
earance, and when this is done, sixty
r sixty five days will suffice for the
rowth of "a crop. Bright, green hay
rom Hungarian grass is an excellent
rticle for ewes. 1t ought to be sown
hick, say bushel per acre, to make it
row fine, and then harvested green
nough so that it will not turn yellow
'hen cured. In the weak sunshine of
ate fall, Hungarian should lie and cure
or two and half or three days in the
wath.-American Sheep Breeder.