The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-09-17
No. 80

solution of blue vitriol (sulphate Of
copper) or of white vitriol (sulphate,
OF zinc) and water, and repeat every
few days for two or three weeks,
meantime with a sharp knife pairing
off bottom of hoofs into as elegant
shape as possible and continue to
keep them so (also the feet of every
stock ram) by frequent pairing as
long as he is used for a breeder. Be-
sides this have certificate from the
breeder that the ram purchased has
not been taken from footrot or
otherwise diseased flock and is free
from it when shipped.
These precautions carefully fol-
lowed will set aside any danger.
Of course the eve lambs from
these young ewes must be marked
when they come so as to be readily
known, to be permanently marked
say at weaving time by using me-
talic ear tabs with initials and num-
bers engraved They are very cheap
and by keeping reference book, are
an infallible guide for keeping rec
ord of all separations, divisions,
notes of matings, of conditions or of
sales or any other matters of i'm
portance. Such marking and contin-
Uous record is of inestimable value
to the owner or shepherd who does,
Or wishes to, understand his busi-
ness. They should go in the ears of
at least the eve lambs each year at
or before weaving time. Red paint
spots put on when they first come
will designate them until they can
carry ear tabs.
By mating time or end of this third
year in the business, and supposing
the buck lambs to all have been put
off, the eve flock of all ages may
stand about 115 old ewes, so two-year-
olds, so yearlings and rs lambs, in
all 800 head. Or it may stand 115
old ewes, 80 two-year olds, so year1-
ings and IS lambs, in all~S2O head.
would say that if the number is
below the former, something is seri-
ously wrong, but if above the latter
the shepherd deserves a high com.
mendation. Though with nice care
and feed and attention to the pre-
oocity of the stock ram and raising
of twins a considerably higher record
may be reached.
However, with a view to cutting
the flock down at once, the old ones
may be sold as stock sheep at a good
price if they we're young when
bought.
The old ewes being sold, and the
fourth and fifth years the young
half-blood Dorsets being twice bred
to the Merino ram brings us to be-
ginning of sixth year with 15O half
blood Dorsets to be once more bred
to the Merino and 65 young half
blood Merinos for which new stock
ram must be had, besides 85 half
Merino eve lambs just weaned. It
will be flock of large young ewes
of superior quality, the half Dorsets
clipping six pounds and the Merinos
eight pounds at least on the average
while many of the half Merino cross
will shear ten pounds.
To hold their high characteristics
in density, orimp and quality of
fleece, while raising the average of
the third cross feeces up to ten
pounds and increasing the weight of
carcass to an average of 200 pounds
in full fleece and flesh, improved il
every way for mutton sheep, will be
the problem which shall present it.
self to the owner and the question
will be, 'FWhere will the ram to do
this be found?
I fully believe there is more than
one of the. long wool and mutton
breeds will do this, but have not
tried them all and shall write of what
I know.
Notwithstanding the dark face
that is disliked by some, would buy
a pedigreed Shropshire. I would
pay less attention to some of the fine
points of excellence that would make
him prize winner and see rather
tha5 he shear a long fibre, well
crimped, very lustrous, dense and
evenly set fleece, good wool on head,
and between and below the eyes,
especially dense long and good lus.
trous quality on the belly and hips
as well as on sides and back, and
weighing certainly not under 20