The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-04-25
DIVERSIFIED FARMING.
BIZ JAMES ARNOLD.

these papers on diversified farming
have been somewhat interrupted.
While we have discussed the COW and
the hog as factors in the fananer's
business, it seems to nae that the
sheep should be by 40 a,ealis neg
lectsd. The shepherds branch Of
agriculture is one of the oldest tnen-
toned In history, and some of the
most noted names of ancient fame,
both saered and profane are intimate
" conaeeted with the sheep industry.
| [ have not now time to write q series
of papers on the management OF
sheep, bart will endeavor to call at
4 tention of those who cannot 60 iuto
dairying and hog raising,to the merits
of the sheep as factor in diversified
farming. The sheep occupies a promi-
neat place ia advanced agriculture for
many reasons, and | shall endeayor
to point out few of them. In Great
Britain the sheep is called the rent
payer. For ease and comfort in the
handling, the sheep stands at the
head of all our domestic animals.
Contrast the feeding of lot OF slop
feed to big bunch of hogs and the
foddering of the same number OF
sheep or contrast the condition OF a
sheep yard or barn, with that occupied
by lot of cattle, and who would not
prefer the sheep. As scayengers on a
farm where small grain is raised,
and a rotation of crops carried on, the
hog and COW are not within shouting
distance of the sheep. As grazing
animals on a tame pasture, or billy
country, the sheep is away ahead, as
his appetite for weeds and trash, and
his ability to get his living on a spare
bite. puts cattle out of the race. AS
manure distributors when folded on
soiling crops, while he is making NUT
ton and preparing the land for a
future grain crop, he has no equal.
As a healthful and palatable food,
whether he browse on the wild rose
bush and rag weed, or the rape and
turnip plants, the medical fraternity
tell us the meat stand at the head of all
animals raised for that purpose. High
tariff or low tariff, pound of mutton
can be raised as cheap as pound of
beef and the wool is so much thrown in.
The sheep is the only animal which is
said never to die in debt to it's owner,
for the pelt will pay for it's board
Compare the labor and profits of 200
good sheep and rs COWS, and l will
take the sheep and you may have the
COWS, and while you sit down and
milk, | will sit down and rest, or
write an article on the financial ques-
ton. While you hustle to skim the
milk, and work the churn and butter
paddle, or trot off to the separator, |
will take the camp stool and umbrella
and walk out to the flock, and there
sit and watch the lambs play, and
mediate on the pleasures Of bucolic
life. Let us figure out the cost and
returns for 25 cows and 200 sheep.
1t is we'll known fact that what will
keep one COW and her increase for
year, will keep eight sheep and their
increase for the same length of time.
25 at $40 each $500. 200 grade cots
void or Shropshire sheep at two and
one-half dollars each $500. Figure
the butter and calf from each COW at
$50 each, and you haye a return of
$3.50 for your ~ cows. A flock of
ewes with proper care will double
their number in year and shear eight
pOuuuo VI WOOl odCll, Wucu CuO 10
turns stand thus: 1900 pounds of
wool at ten cents per pound, $3.50, and
29O fat sheep at three dollars each,
$500; total $3.50, leaving balance of
$40 in favor of the sheep. The grain
used in fattening the sheep will be
offset by the grain fed to the cows in
winter feed. The labor caring for the
sheep will be offset in the care of the
cows, and you have the added labor
with the COWS of milking, skimming,
churning, etc. Again / say you may
have the cows and / will take the
sheep, but l mean good sheep, for
Redwood county is Gods country for
sheep.
For Sale at a Bargain.
The northwest quarter of section %