Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-02-19
sHtEp FARMS.
wha, Is Being Done In this Industry
in washIr gton County.

the weight OF The argument on TINS
question has been for or sgsinst be sheep,
/ IL is a noticeable fact that within q dozen
years these snimsls have been disposed
OF altogether on many farms. The feel
| ing Is now spreading among the farmers
that this was a mistake, and that g good
profit can be realized from flock where
the farm possesses proper facilities and
advantages for the business.
1 Mschiss already hss g number OF well
stocked sheep farms, and others are now
engaging In the business to an extent
| ihst will soon make this q leading busi-
ness in the farming section OF the town
Among those who are now turning their
at tention In this direction are Jshn and
Joel Thompson. For number of years
these succs ssful farmers owned large
| milk route, which received their almost
undivided attention, but during the time
when their barns were filed with herds
of cows, they continued to keep q small
| flock of sheep upon The farm. usually
shout fifteen In number. The profit from
this small flock was so satisfactory, that
when they decided to dispose OF their
milk route they at once commenced 10
increase the size OF their stock. List year
they wintered flock OF tbirt six, aud
they now have more than sixty. few
OF the lambs will be sold, so that the flock
will be reduced to about fifty-ss many
as can he kept conveniently In be room
which they now have suitable for house.
ing purposes.
1t Is their intention, however, to in
crease this number from year to year,
as they can enlarge the facilities OF their
farm. With the amount OF hay which
they now cut, flock OF 100 sheep could
be wintersd, aud next season they pro-
pose 10 increase their housing roc m by
erecting a shed that will accommodate
smother flock of fifty. But they bave no
The pasture land which adjoins their
fields can be converted into grass land at
small expense, and as sheds for housing
are inexpensive, they believe they can in
crease the capacity OF their farm to 800
sheep with but small outlay OF capital.
They already have sufficient pssturage for
that number, 80 that no outlay would be
required 10 that direction
This pasture contains about 800 acres,
and is situated about three miles down
the river from their farm. Ii was pnr-
chased several years ago for COM
parstiveiy small sum because the feeding
ground was covered with bushes and the
owners believed that the cost of clearing
them of would be SO great that 1t would
not be profits bic to undertake the work.
But the new owners have adopted
method which not only clears the land,
but also provides the best of feed
ing ground. Their method Is to burn
over "a section OF the pasture each spring
st time when the grass and fine bush is
dry. This will not burn deep, but IL will
kin the sIders and other bushes. By lesy-
ing these one season, they become thor
oug hly dried, so bat a fire started in
them one year after the first fife, burns
them clear, sud by burning hem early The |
sod is uniniured and the best feed at |
once springs up. Into this pasture the |
sheep are turned in the early spring to |
remain until the ground 10 covered With |
snow in such quantities that they are no |
ljnger able to get to the ground for their |
living.
With an abundance OF cheap pssturaRe
for summer, their next aim was to find
met bod by which they can be kept through |
the winter at the minimum cost. The plan |
which they have adopted, and which has |
thus far proven entirely satisfactory, Is TO |
plant large piece OF rape at a convenient |
distance from the housing sheds. After
the sheep are brought from the pasture,
they are allowed to rosrl over the farm,
aud they soon fad their way to the rape
patch. This will usually last for several
weeks, and while they can get 1t no other
food Is required. When IL Is buried ia the
snow, they will dig it out and eat 1t In
preference to the hay that lie offered them.
But when the supply 10 exhausted and
there is nothing remaining for them out
OF doors, good quality of English hay is
fed them, and besides this, they are given
turnips or pressed herring, the latter,
IL is said, being preferable to corn for
sheep. This, however, Is quite expensive,
but as every farmer knows. tarnips can
be raised at a very small cost.
Last winter the Thompson brothers had
100 barrels of turnips in their cellar ready
for shipment, but failing to find a sstis-
factory market for them, they deter
mined to feed them to the sheep. which
they did with such satisfactory results
that they propose in the future TO make
this part OF the daily rations for their
flock.
With the sheep, they propose to keep a
small flock of Angora goats. Two of
these animals were purchased last spring,
and IS the number increases they will
engage more extensively in the business.
As these goats get their living mainIy from
bushes. pasture is kept In better con-
dition for sheep by having small flock
OF them in the pasture.
The sheep upon this farm are
mt thoroup 4 hrans huf are erass ha