The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-10-06
Waldo County Sheep Industry.

|
Wool Growers Association was held in Sea-
side Grange Hall, Belfast Tuesday, Oct. 4th.
| Owing to the wording of the call for the meet
| ing, which gave the impression that it was to
| be confined to members or intending men,
bers of the Association, the attendance was
small. The meeting was called to order by
Frank P. Bennett of Saugus, Mass, who
gave the opening address, in which he spoke
of the sheep industry of New England its
| present condition and its future outlook
| and possibilities.
| The first paper of the day was read by
James G. Harding of Waldo on the subject
| 'Sheep Raising in Waldo County" Sheep
raising he said, has never been a leading in
dustry in Waldo County. Few. if any,
| farmers make it leading branch of their
business. This county possesses superior
advantages for the production of mutton
and wool. If our farmers would give the
same attention to this industry that they
have to others they would be better satsti-
ed with it than with any other branch.
Probably wool production will never be the
chief object Of sheep husbandry in this
county-mltton first wool second. 1t costs
less to stock farm with sheep than with
any other animals. The profits are quicker
and surer and they yield returns without
the necessity of sacrificing the flock. Sheep
come nearer to eating everything that
grows on farm than any other stock and
will maintain and increase the fertility of
the farm. j. w. Lang in his "Suryey of
Waldo County in 1873 says: "Sheep are
the cornerstone of good husbandry." If
sheep were the cornerstone then. they must
be the whole foundation now. We are care
full in our selection of breeding animals
for our horses and dairy herds, but for our
records as fiock-masters we ought to blush
for shame. Mr.. Harding then cited the
different methods of breeding sheep pursued
by dtfere ut farmers, and spoke encourag-
ingiy of the possihi of the county for
raising first class stock, both thoroughbred
and grades. He then compared the advan-
tages and disadvantages of fruit growing
with those of the sheep industry, to the bene-
tit of the latter, and concluded with these
words, II am firm in the belief that there
are better returns for the amount of capital
invested than in any other branch of farm
ing
The Secretary, O. B. Munroe of Boston
read paper by E. r. Leach of East
Newport, Me-, on early Lambs for Mar
ket" He said a farmer who decides to
raise early lambs for market should not
wait until fall before beginning to pre-
pare for that business He should cut his
finest grass the last OF June or first of
July and put it away for the winter feeding,
The second crop of clover, cut in September
and we'll cured makes good milk. Early
lambs cannot be made profitable in large
f!ocks. In August select the best mixers.
those Years old or more are best, and put
them in a good pasture with a buck, 1t IS
important that sheep come to the barn in
good condition. If the feed i'll the pasture
geJS short give them meal. The best feed
for fattening sheep is milk, therefore feed
for milk production. One pint per day OF half
cracked corn and half meal IS a good feed for
a sheep. Their quarters should be warm but
well ventilated. Give them the run of the
yard on pleasant days. After they drop their
lambs increase their feed. One quart is not
too much when giving milk and when the
lamb is weeks old they need more. Do not
let the lambs have feed before them all the
time. Give them only what they can digest
Lambs dropped in January should be ready
for market from April 1st to the 10th.
Chairman Bennett spoke of the possibility
of Maine farmers raising thoroughbred stock
ON a large scale for the Pacific coast markets,
railroad rates from Maine comparing favor
ably with those from the great sheep raising
centres.
Isaac G. Reynolds of Brooks said the worst
cheat he knows of lis farmer cheating him
self, and the farmer does cheat himself who
is careless in shearing and marketing his
wool. He spoils the fibre of his wool if he
packs it when it is wet. Wool should be
thoroughly dried before being packed or it
will sour, the same as damp or green hay in
a NOW. Wool properly dried will increase
in weight after being packed, while damp
wool will spoil Wool should be sheared in
a clean place, and be free from chaff and
dirt.
Chairman Bennett remarked that a
drought or a change TO poor pasture or poor
feed makes a weak place in the bre of the
fleece. Wool grown when the sheep is out of
condition is weak of fibre.
E. G. Dow of Monroe said wool NAV be
spoiled while on the sheep, or after shearing,
by improper methods. He also read paper
On Sheep Farming il Maine. He reviewed
the past, from the time wnen our ancestors
raised the wool, carded, spun and wove
it for the use of the family. AS new methods
of business were introduced the loom, the
wheel and the card disappeared from our
farms, and sheep raising, from necessary
part of the farm and household work, became
branch which was carried on or not as the
individual farmer might think there was or
was not sufficient money profit in it to war
rant. By these and other causes our fiocks
became greatly reduced but now a reaction
has set in and there is growing interest in
sheep husbandry. Under present conditions
it is the most profitable branch in which a
farmer can engage. Not only does it pay
large and quick dividends, but no other
branch so quickly and surely restores the
fertility of the farm as this.
After adjournment for an hour for dinner
the afternoon session was opened by paper
on Successful Sheep Husbandry" by L. F.