The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-02-19
AGRICULTURAL.
THE L1MBING SEASON.

That most important of all seasons
in the work of the sheep breeder is
now close at hand, and within the
next few weeks the probable increase
in the flock and the prospective in
come for the year resulting from the
sale of lambs will be in sight. This
will be u good time to look back, to
review our work, to see where we
may have made mistakes, what they
were, and how we made avoid them
in future. | hope that in many in
stances we may be able to see the re-
SUITS of better care, of more suitable
food and more comfortable quarters.
In too many cases the Landing seas
on is one which is dreaded, as there
is looking forward to sleepless
nights to weak, puny lambs, to be
nursed around the kitchen fire and an
almost endless amount of extra
chores about the sheep barn. But all
this is unnecessary, and there should
be no fear of losses or of large
amount of disagreeable work in con-
nection with the Landing ewes. 1t
is one of the places where the farmer
may and should be master of the sit
uation. The whole matter of repro
duction is simple and the danger and
loss connected with it should be of
very small amount. If the breeding
stock is in good health, and has been
kept vigorous by a proper system of
feeding and exercise; if the ram used
was of good age in full vigor and had
not been overtaxed by allowing him
to run with the ewes all the time or
by using him to too large numbers,
there need be no loss il the surround
ings are such as they should be.
But if, on the other hand, the ewes
are thin and lack vigor, or if the feed
has been scant or of improper kinds,
especially if there has been lack of
succulent food, such as silage or roots,
the outlook may not be pleasant
one, but rather another instance of the
sure working of that old rule, ''What-
soever man soweth, that shall he
also reap
OF the lambs are strong and lively,
if the eve has abundance of milk, re-
view your past treatment and methods
of feeding and care, note your sue
cesses and repeat them in future; but
1 bn &c tpt16 lon he
weak and Indifferent or there is scant
milk for their nourishment, try to see
your mistakes and steer clear of
them another season. The careful
man will have kept record of the
time of service by the ram, so that he
will know at what time to be on the
lookout for lambs. The time will vary
slightly as between different breeds,
and also as between ewes of different
ages of the same breed. Records of
service which l kept for years show
that with the early maturing mutton
breeds of sheep the period of CESSATION
is IL to 16 days, ewes that are adj
vanced in age being inclined to carry
the lambs a day or two longer than
the younger ewe.. Merino ewes will
also require a little longer period
than ewes Of the IN utton breeds.
Care must be exercised at and before
the time of Landing to feed regular
ly, and in judicious quantities. avoid
ing any increase of grain food just at
this time, as the the results may be
serious. The whole eve flock should
have been trimmed with shears some
time before lambs are due, but |
would avoid cutting the wool entirely
off the inside of the thigh or the I'D
der, as there will be danger of colds,
which will too often be followed by
caked udder or garget. A part of the
wool should be clipped off, but at
least one-half the length of wool
should be left as protection to the
sensitive parts.
Take a crayon and write just over
the door to the sheep barn this SEN
tence, and always keep it in mind at
this season above all others: "Be
quite, be patient, be clearly. y
Frank D. Ward, in New England
Homestead