Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-01
PERMANENT SHEEP PASTURE.

In whatever way a flock of sheep
may be kept on farm, there should
be some pasture provided which may
be considered as permanent resource
for use wnen the other supplies are
not available For farm flock, the
main source of feeding, if the manage
ment is skillful, will be the various
by-products of other fields as the stub
bles n the fall, the fallows in the
spring, and in the summer those fields
which are resting between the plowed
crops.
Any field which has gone through
several years of rotation may be very
proitably rested for a year or two, and
this may be done by making it a range
for a flock. 1t was an ancient prac-
tice to employ seventh year fallow,
in which the land was not put under
culture, and the experience of all the
ages since has fully proved the econ
omy of this rest. If this is done and
the farm stock is increased by a suf-
ficient flock of sheep, by so much the
resources of the farm are extended
and one otherise unproductive year is
added to the profitable fields.
We have on this side of the world
strong prejudice against permanent
pastures 1t is thought to be impos-
sible with our dry climate, notwith-
standing cess of rainfall above
that of European countries in which
tho fno1y Of oh &c ind Il
part Of the live stock, to maintain
permanent pasture. Doubtless this is
true; but it is so for the reason that
it is rare that any field is ever put un-
der sufficient culture or is ever fer
tilted or so literally seeded as to pro-
duce profitable grass pasture for more
than one year, the second year being
devoted to a sort of range only, in
which-with other feeding-the land
may rest and by some partial fallow
blowing possibly be brought once more
under the usual rotation. This pro-
vides means for the profitable feeding
Of some sheep every year as part of
the rotation, and all the more profit
ably if the land is plowed and sown
with rape, which by good management
may be made fully to feed seven to
ten sheep per acre the whole summer.
this, as the cost of the seed is only
20 cents an acre. and the preparation
of the land for it is practically the
same that it would be if the field were
simply summer fallowed; while the
advantage gained even by the working
of the land alone is worth all the cost
of it. And this use of the field matches
in so well with the permanent pasture
to be used at suitable intervals during
the season that the two go together
with perfect propriety.
A permanent pasture is not a field
self for its own maintenance. The
condition of such a field in two or
three years would be disgusting
through the mere collection of blotch-
es of manure left all over it, unless it
were occupied only by sheep, and even
then the fouled spots would be avoid
ed. The fact is that no permanent
pasture Tor Sheep IS possible except
under due management these animals
eating clearly as they go, and dropping
the manure in such scattered way
as to help the grass and not smother
it and kill it, By a little fresh seed
ing and touch with sharp harrow, a
permanent sheep pasture may be kept
in the very best condition and so be-
come the key to the most profitable
feeding Of a flock during the necessary
intervals between other feeding. But
it will require liberal seeding, and this
reinforced annually, together with a
sharp narrowing at the same time to
freshen the surface
Tobacco and Tea.