Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-02-02
Wednesdays Session.


Braintree,
Is the sheep industry still worthy of an
attempt to keep? Once in about so often
some certain farm industry will be above
another, and at otter times it will be at the
bottom. At this time it is sheep that are
down. As the sailor says, "the tide is OUT
with them. A short time ago there were
from 500 to 800 tiocks Of sheep on the west
side of the Green mountains that were
well kept and well cared for. Now know
of but six or seven that are kept up in
good shape. The cause is that the farmers
are discouraged. In the past year, carload
after carload of sheep has gone to the Bos-
ton markets, from which the owners real
lied but from - cents to 81 per head.
The people of Vermont seem to be unan-
imous in the opinion that the sheep indus
try has gone by, but they are making
vast mistake, at least so far as mutton
sheep are concerned. In less than five
years the farmers of Vermont will be look
ing for sheep again. Don't 90 with the
crowd and sell your property when it is
worth nothing. In past years sheep have
been nearly given away to buy dairy cows.
The dairy business is booming now, but in
a short time we will be giving away cows
to buy sheep. DO not invest in the breed
ing of Merino sheep, as the outlook for
this breed is not good. They are solely a
wool sheep, and it is the mutton sheep that
we want at present. There has been for
the last 20 years growing tondness for
mutton, for we raise better article of
III ltton every year. Physicians say it is the
healthiest kind of meat.
Study your market and surroundings
and see if it is not policy to carry along
a few sheep, if for no other reason than to
improve your farm. Although you get no
Immediate gain the time will come when
they will bring in a good return. Stick to
sheep raising and put intelligence into it.
Keep from - to 80 head for mutton, and
send the lambs to market at the proper time
and you can realize from four to five dol
larsp er head. Although wool does not
bring much, sheep are paying expenses.
Pasturing during the summer costs almost
nothing, and there is no other animal that
will keep tie pasture in so good condition,
as they keep down the brush, weeds, etc,
and they will thrive upon hay that is com
paratively valueless for anything else. They
are the easiest stock to care for and need
no special care except at Landing time,
when they must have care and good care.
BE sure to feed grain during the month of
October, as they need it then; also for a
month before Landing, increasing the
amount afterward. Never let a sheep run
down. If you have a sheep in your flock
that is running down kill it. Never fatten
a breeding sheep but keep in good condi-
ton and breed for muscle and not fat.
Feed roots, bran, cnsilage, etc. Care must
be taken in feeding enslage.
Shear your sheep in the month Of April
and for a week or Two after keep in a
warm shed or basement that the pores may
have ample time to close.
For mutton do not mix Mernos with
other sheep. Vermont is particularly adapt
ed for sheep raising, as the sheep are the
most hardy and healthy in the United
| States. We can improve and perfect NUT
ton sheep that will be noted the world
over