Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-02-24
= IsE7-T-t- -.&fa sSE-Ss-@E ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -
PASTURES FORSH]E1I.ElEl1EEI]P.
REALPRoRLEMF FOR THEFLock OWN
81 en- 70 SOLVE. 8

Grass and Crop Farming Demnnd
HIS First Attention - Cheap and
9 Nourashfng Food at All seasoDs
Necessary to Success. n
The owner OF q good flock OF sheep
needs to study pastures and grasses
more than any other side,of his busi-
ness. The sheep owner should be the
most practical hay and crop farmer in
the country. Hired labor at d nominal
sum can look after the sheep and see
that they arr properly fed and housed
at night, but raising OF grass pastures,
fodder and other food cannot be trust
ed to any except the intelligent owner,
says q correspondent Of The American
Cultivator. Now, It goes without say
ing that with plenty Of food provided
for the sheep at all seasons Of the year,
good shelter and fair stock to begin
with the work Of Increasing the herd
and>th mutton and wool supply is not
very difficult OF complicated. The rub
comes in to find sufficient nourishing
food for the sheep at all seasons Of the
year at relatively low cost. q
To do this the owner must become a
crop farmer. He must give up his best
time and thought to the planting Of
crops to supply the sheep with proper
food. In some quarters there is a no.
ton that sheep raising consists of turn
Ing loose a flock Of sheep On a large
range and letting them increase by the
natural method. OF course there must
be a little watching to see that dogs do
not kill the lambs and other shepherds
do not drive off the sheep. I suppose
some of sheep do literally fol-
low this easy method. but unless they
are fortunately situated as regards
food and climate I do not believe they
make a living. A favorable year might
enable them to make a little profit, but
an adverse season would ruin them.
have found in my experience that
the real problem in sheep raising is in
grass and crop farming. l study to
provide the sheep with nourishing food
the year round, and by arranging be-
forehand the cost is relatively small. I
do not trust to range grass nor to old
wornout pasture fields. New portions
Of the farm are seeded fresh nearly ev-
cry year. l am constantly blowing,
narrowing and sowing, putting the
land in such condition that it will yield
bountifully of grass, rape, corn fodder,
roots and even grains. I make this
sort Of farming pay because it prom
Uses me good returns in the shape OF
good lamb and mutton and excellent
wool. .ty.. ~. .y.- ga.
Sheep and lambs provided with good
food winter and summer rarely con
tract disease. My losses have beer
very few, and when in some winters
others are forced to sell part of theil
focks at ruinous prices ON account Of
the high prices for food l have beer
able not only to winter my own sheep
but to take advantage of the conditions
and buy more at bargain prices. Sew
efal winters ago I nearly doubled my
flock in this way, and those sheep are
worth twice as much this winter. The
food question is the secret Of the whole
thing. Provided with plenty Of good
food the shepherd has control Of the
situation, and every winter he can pick
up bargains in sheep from those with
insufficient food to carry them along.