Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-11-29
The BOARD BULLETIN.
SHEEP HUsBANDRY NUMBER. SOME OF
THE COMMENTS.
OXFORD COUNTY.

BUCKriELp-I do not believe We farm
ers should 20 wholly into sheep, because,
first, q large flock Of sheep will not
thrive and give the profit that small
one win, and, second, you cannot save
the dressing required 10 build up a
farm. do believe every farmer should
keep few sheep. think can keep IL
sheep one ye as cheaply as | car cow.
The Income from l2 sheep should not be
less than SO a. they will care for them
selves from the let OF May until De-
cember. keep about y sheep. This
year, with wool at 10 cents, | shall get
$500 per head. have my lambs come
the first Of March, and feed both sheep
and lambs on cottonseed meal and
ground oats. With good care the lambs
will be ready for market the lst Of June.
There IL an advantage In getting your
lambs OF early, as your sheep will come
to the barn In good condition, which as
sures less expense in wintering. like
the Downs; they are hardy sheep and
good mothers. Breed from the best
bucks, they are none too good.
V. p. DECosTER.
DIxFIELD-Condition and individua Al
situations must govern ones course In
the keeping Of sheep, as In other busi-
ness. The general outlook, think, IL
not any too bright, nor yet bad enough
70 discourage. know Of no case where
think one could keep sheep on farm
and no other stock. believe II would
be an unbalanced affair, and impossible
to keep up the farm. believe the best
way 10 keep sheep Is In connection
with cows, or particularly on high,
rocky but good pastures, and Ia such
numbers as to do well without robbing
cows, and vice versa. Our experience
has always taught Us that the white
faced sheep (well patterned Cotswold
the idesD are the most profitable and
desirable In every way. We always plan
10 have the lambs taken from dams rea-
sonsbly early and put in field or past
ure where feed Is good so that sheep win
Then feed good, early cut hay, and
rutsbags turnips, cut with root cutter,
which leaves them in just the right shape
for sheep. Feed same on the snow until
spring. Will say here that We always
feed sheep hay on snow except In storms
and warm weather Ia spring. | like soft, ,
fine hay for sheep, redtop and slsike
clover in mixture, and early cut June
grass for those who cut such. believe
we must keep sheep for mutton and
wool combined and cannot raise for
either alone AS the leading feature. We
do not want our sheep shesred until
warm, settled weather, when they will
no, suffer from cold nights and storms.
believe there IL no surer way Of running
a good flock Of sheep than by shesring
too early. To dispose OF ticks We always
dip lambs at shesriug time. using In the
past the "Incarnative Sheep Dip" but
this year we used kerosene emulsion and
found il just AS good and much cheaper.
Use insect powder in early winter on
lambs and such sheep as need attention.
+. l.. T0RREY.
PARIs-Perhsps there IL nothing a
farmer can keep on his farm that will
pay larger prodt for the sum invested
than = small flock of sheep, IL they are
well looked after throughout the year
and dogs are kept on: OF the pasture. |
doub, II \ farm xill hold It's own or II
YOU can improve II with flock OF sheep.
Sheep wsnt the best OF feed and Will be
sure 10 find II, II one Il not a good fence
builder and worker. Southdowns aud
Oxford Downs seem to do the best Tor
lambs, as well as wool. Would shear .,
lesst ten DAYS before turning away to
pasture.
ii. ID. HAMMOND.
WEST SuMNER-I think the farmer
should be encouraged to keep a better
class of sheep. In this section they are
badly .srun out" The farmers need 10
introduce good buck TO improve their
fiocks. But don't think it advisable TO
stock solely with sheep. We need the
cows 70 keep up the farm. like 70 have
my stock made up of about one-third
sheep, and can keep my farm In good
shape in this way. The Oxford Down
Is the best breed that have had any ex-
perience With. This breed OF sheep have
good wool and are excellent for mutton,
being large and heavy, and taking on
flesh very readily. | think the grades
are better for the common farmer. The
best season for shearing Is April or the
very first Of May, as that gives you a
chance to kiln ticks, II there are any,
before they 20 to pasture.
r. n. SrErsoN.
CANroN-I think sheep husbandry
should be encouraged and extended Ia
this State, but do not think it desirable
for farmers to devote the whole re-
sources Of their farms TO the production
Of sheep. do not think the fertility OF
the farm can be maintained so we'll II
stocked solely with sheep rs with cows.
For breed, l prefer the Downs, and for
lambs the grades. At present prices
think mutton growing should be the
leading feature. The prospect for sue
cess In raising hothouse lambs Is not As
good as it was q few years ago In this
State. The best season for shesring II
when the weather Is warm enOugh,-tht
last Of MAY or first of June. am
troubled with ticks but very little. My
preventative is to keep my sheep in good
condition, and feed them sulphur mixed
with salt In winter months. My idea ]!
that sheep do best In small fiocks.
feed nv sheep In winter three times
day under cover. have fed turntps and
potatoes to sheep In winter, about ont
quart to sheep, per day, with good re
suits. Last winter fed II sheep ont
hushel of sweet corn fodder ensilsg
once day, and think 1t q cheaper feet
TO raise than roots. / like a mixture ol
the different varieties of flne hay, to feed
sheep. Z. W. WALKER
WEST PARIs-In relation to stocking
a farm wholly with sheep, this would
not be my Idea. A few sheep on mos
of our farms are more profitable thar
many. A farm can be kept up viii
sheep, but not NJ well IA BY keeping
other stock with them. The Leicester
and Southdowns do the best here; tha
lambs mature younger and sell at bette
prices. They are the best mutton sheep
with medium wool. A thoroughbred
male Il preferable. Hothouse lamb
would not be my idea. Best season 10
shearing IL the last part Of Nay. Whei
shearing use insect powder on the sheeI
and also on the lambs. have fount
that very successful In my 6ock. l hsv'
no ticks at all. To prevent scAb ant
other diseases use sulphur. i hav'
used it for twenty years and never hat
any scab. think II better TO let sheel
run In pastures with cattle In summer
feed NV sheep three times . day regular
ly and water morning and night. Beet
or carrots are the best roots for shsel
lin winter. Clover hay b The best.
! Ta L. =. EvxRETf.