The Somerset reporter., 1898-12-15


harder to keep up the fertility of the farm
with sheep than with cows, which every
man knows who have kept both. |
don't know why the prospect Gall things
copsidered) is not as good now as | has
ever been. would not advise man to
pu, the entire resource OF his farm into
the keeping of sheep for the reason that
the kind of sheep | think the most
profitable, which is what is called the mid
die wool. will not do well in too large
focks There should no, be more than
IS to 30 in foCks for them to do their
best, and where farm will carry from
one to two hundred. it is pretty hard TO
keep them sufficiently separated around
one set of buildings We should try to
combine the two qualities, the round.
close made, hard body, with wool of
medium length closely packed on to the
entire body and legs think you get
this as nearly in the Shropshire as in any
one breed. We have had excellent
results IN crossing Merino buck with
Cotswold ewes. | don't believe it
advisable for farmers generally to 60 into
raising dollhouse lambs Lambs should
be dropped early enough so they will get
a good stait before the sheep are turned
to pasture, or not until the sheep have
become used to grass feed and the
weather becomes warm. TT e best time to
shear is about three weeks before turning
to pasture, when you can keep them in
warm quarters until the wool gets started
a little. We have experimental some in
feeding sheep. and find that with flock
averaging about 100 pounds each, Two
pounds of good hay per day, per sheep,
will keep them in good condition until
about lambing time Then few roots
every day (and turnips are very good for
them), will carry them through all right.
If any one wants to get forced growth
in the lambs, think it much better to
feed provender to lambs than to the
sheep. K. w. ELLIS.
PALMYRA-I do not look for a great
boom in the sheep industry; still, the
prospect for large profit from all farm
stock, is improving Mutton and wool
are becoming dearer to the consumer and
of course that means larger profit to the
producer Believe no farmer should be
without, and think none should devote
the whole resources of his and to sheep.
One fourth or one-,hird of the value OF
all farms stock, whether the farm is large
or small, can profitable be invested in
sheep. Am sure the fertility OF the farm
can be kept up with sheep, especially If
they are yarded nights. My own sheep
have lain in the barn cellar every night
this summer. They came up every night
after being driven once or twice. If
pastures are not stony, SO they can be
ploughed, of course the conditions are
stll more favorable. Wool and mutton
combined should be considered Have
practiced sheaiing the last of April, but
great care should be taken at this time.
There is great change in taking off the
fleece at any time of year, and ten per
cent of he flock is often lost. Believe
grades are better adapted to our wants
than full bloods. They should be short
of leg, broad OF back, and deep Of chest.
should cut from to 10 pounds of wool,
thick and firm, and carry their flesh in
places where the meat is valuable. With
sheep it is easy to produce ones ideal,
more so than with horses, or other neat
stock. If a man knows what he wants for
a sheep, he can produce such an one by
judicious skill and judgment, and one that
will always be profitable.
J. P. LONELY.
ANsoN-In regard to sheep husbandry,
in my opinion the prospect was never
better, and | think it should be en-
couraged and extended until there are
twice the number of SHEEP kept in the
State of Maine. Do not think it would
be desirable for farmers as rule to de
vote the whole resources of their farms to
the production of sheep, and should doubt
if the fertility of the farm could be main-
tanned if no other stock but sheep were
kept. Pure bred Hampshire Downs are
best adapted to our wants, and mutton
growing should be the leading feature,
because all producers of mutton are pro-
ducers of wool. In my opinion, success
is sure to follow The production of hot
house lambs if those engaged in the
business have the necessary knowledge.
The best season for shearng depends on
the quarters in which the sheep are kept.
If warm enough, March or April, as early
shearing helps to destroy ticks. But to
vent scab the sheep ought to be dipped.
F. d HILTON
ANsON-I think the outlook for sheep
is the best it has been for years. A
sheep with wool and mutton qualities
combined is the sheep to keep. The
Dickson Merino comes the nearest to
being an all around sheep. They are
long, heavy sheep, the rams weighing
from rs pounds to 22s pounds at years
of age; weight of fleece. from 20 to Is
pounds They are one of the best breeds
for early lambs as they will breed twice
a year. March or April is the best time
to shear. if suitable quartz RS can be had.
Roots and ground oats make the best
feed Turnips are preferred with plenty
of clover. T. G.. HILTON
HARTLAND-The prospect OF sheep
raising, for the farmers of Maine. at the
present time looks very favorable, and
think it advisable for the farmers that
have not already got them, to add small
flock to their farms. don't think it
advisable to devote the whole of our
farms to sheep raising, as that would gut
the market and we would soon have to
seek some other branch of stock hus-
bandry. We don't want to rush headlong
into this. but see that our farms are
adapted to sheep raising and then go
slow. for few sheep well kept will give
more profit than large flock not so
we'll tended. We should encourage the
farmers Of Maine to raise better class of
sheep The majority have been using
apytb;pY for a ram that thew could oct the