The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-12-02
The Sheep Industry of Waldo County.
From the Board of Agriculture Bulletin.

From the Board OF Agriculture Bulletin.
MORRILL,. There are comparatively few
farmers who keep sheep in this section of
Waldo county. Those few are inclined
! this year to increase their flocks, looking
to wool and lambs for profits, the latter
being dropped in March OF early in April,
50 that by July or August they sell for
from So to 81. l think the pasture problem
can be solved by keeping small flock of
sheep with cattle to eat the birch and will
low sprouts, and they do no injury to the
cattle. My father always kept sheep in
this manner and it saved us many days
work grubbing up the pasture. Several
years ago introduced few sheep into a
small pasture which seemed determined to
grow gray birch instead of grass. Now
there is not sprout in the pasture and a
score of apple trees there are kept clean
and we'll MANFRED. When the pasture is
short in the autumn, | soil them with
sweet corn, cabbage, and leaves from the
vegetable garden. My cattle roam over
100 acre pasture, and roam over it many
days each year with bush scythe A
flock of sheep would help me out much
there, but three strands of barbed wire
will not stop sheep as it does my cattle.
d. O. Bowen.
MoNTvILLE. The outlook for the sheep
industry is encouraging. Better prices
for wool and more demand for sheep
everybody wants to buy. Don't think it
a healthy stimulus; think there will be a
reaction. Mutton should be prominent
feature. Taking into account care and
expense OF feeding, think lambs dropped
the first of May will pay the average
farmer the best. If the sheep industry
was to be made a speciality, should have
the lambs dropped earlier in the season.
Is. T. Foster.
SEARsMoNT. II has been years since |
have kept sheep, so | am not authority in
regard to best variety to keep to-day, but
years ago | kept them, sometimes large
t1ocks. and believe as the situation stands
to-day that with persons having pastures
suitable they may prove as profitable as
anything one can feed. AS for time for
having lambs dropped, and whether to
breed for mutton or wool, | should judge
it might depend largely upon the taste and
surroundings of the different persons. One
thing thought learned which might in
terest others, and that was, that unless
the building where they were wintered
stood on very high ground, sheep wintered
better on floors raised several feet from
the ground; and where the building spot
is low the higher the floor the better.
They should always have chance to run
out in large yards. [Otis D. Wilson.
MoNTvILLE. Sheep raising is po-
tent factor in farm industry, for they
pay a double purpose; first, wool, and
second, lambs for market, making good
investment for the money SO invested. Be-
sides this their mutton furnishes the best
food, or one of the most healthful articles
of diet. If farmers put more capital in
this industry, it would be for their inter-
est. Southdowns are preferable in my ex-
perience, though other breeds have their
claims to preference. Lambs dropped any
time in April to tine tenth of May, are most
likely to live and thrive, but this is not the
best time for early market. Every one has
his preference. Sheep should have good
run, and not be too much confined. Let
them have exercise, to keep them healthy.
IF. Hahn.
FREEDOM. l think the sheep business
is coming up, and we should be more
careful of our breeding. | think we
should breed larger sheep, and breed for
wool and mutton. | believe the South
down is the best for us. If we have
warm shed for them, let the lambs come
as soon as can be had. Early lambs are
called for in our market, and bring the
best price. We kill our lambs and ship
them to Boston. believe in feeding
clover hay, and little corn before lamb
Ing and after. c. ;. johnson.