Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-28
Sheep and Fertility.

The following from tne Wlseoiis'h
Farmer is one of the few things that
will appear as well in Iowa as any
where else There seems to be Wlde
feeling. however, that the matter Oh
preserving fertility is not so important
a one as it is in the older states. we
believe it is even more so FOR by be-
ginning before the soil is nearly ex-
hausted it will be a much easier mat
ter to keep it productive than it Will
be to bring it back after once run
down. The authority referred to says:
Somehow sheep have always been
associated with fertility in some way
An old philosopher once wrote that
the "hoof of the sheep is golden" Evil
IDENTIFY this wise old sage meant that
wherever the sheep trod richness was
brought to the land thru increased
fertility occasioned by pasturing sheep.
Wherever sheep have been kept the
soil has become constantly more fer
tile. There are many cases of run down
farms which have been devoted to
sheep and Immediately they have be-
come productive.
We have in mind case in Michigan
where man bought farm that was
so poor that it would not grow the
proverbial bean for which Michigan
is noted. He took the advice of a
friend, put it to grass and clover, and
began feeding western sheep. A short
time ago he broke up a field of sod
which had been pastured by sheep for
several years; planted it to corn and
the crop yielded eighty bushels per
acre. Five years ago it was sold for a
mere song, but now it is priced at $50
per acre.
This shows that sheep feeding and
growing ought not to lag in localities
where there is so much need of fer
tility. 1t ought to act as a stimulus to
the industry. All run down, grain
growing districts can be made to
blossom as the rose by keeping sheep
on the worn out acres. 1t is a profit
able and reliable means of restoring
fertility. What is true of this one
farm in Michigan is also true of many
other like farms in all states.
We also recall a farm where sheep
have been kept for many years and
there is not a field on the whole farm
where oats can be raised with profit
because the soil is SO rich that this
cereal will lodge. It will grow, excel
lent corn and winter wheat, however,
The yield Of these two crops are al
ways satisfactory, and the farmer con-
tents himself with growing these be-
cause they are profitable.
Another man stocked his farm with
sheep because 1t was thought to be
too rough for farming purposes. For
many years the rough, thin land was
pastured with sheep. An adjoining
farm was not SO managed. 1t ALSO
happened that these two fields were
pIowed up for corn the same season.
On the old sheep pasture a crop Of
seventy-flve bushels was grown while
the other field yielded not quite one
half that much.
1t ought not to require any exhorta-
ton to point out that land needs fer
fifty. 1t ought not to require much
proof to show that one cure is sheep.
Most people who know anything about
sheep at all know that fertility is
synonymous with sheep.
Look After the Shelter.
How many boards have been loosen
ed from the barns and not replaced
since the beginning of the winter; and
how many window lights have been
broken and left for the cold winds to
blow their icy breath upon the poor.
shivering creatures within? Too often
these things are neglected, not because
there is really not time to look after
them, but because of the inclination of
many to put these things off until a
more convenient season.
70 y.
the neglect of these things actually
costs in dollars and cents we believe
there would be less representation.
The animal shivering in the corner and
consuming an extra supply OF feed to
keep itself warm is taking the price of
this extra feed out of the owners
pocket. The dairy cow with the cold
blast blowing upon her shrinks in her
milk flow and affects the pocketbook
in more direct way. The animal
standing in another part of the barn
breathing hard from a heavy cold con-
tracted by exposure to the cold draft
thru one of these neglected places, is
causing loss not so evident but just
as certain.
REPRESENTATION is not only the thief
of time, but in such instances is the
thief of direct profits as we'll. Such
things should not be put off because
spring is coming on, and there is a
chance that we may not have much
more very cold weather. It should be
remembered that everything which adds
to the comfort of animals saves the
owner feed. At this time of year. too,
there are usually a number of young
things about the farm that need quar-
tiers especially free from cold drafts.
Also the proverb: "A stitch in time
saves nine," is nowhere more true than
in connection with repairs about farm
bAildings. With board left off it is
only a question of time when some ami
NAL or number of them will pass
thr, strewing wreckage in their path.
Feeding Calves.
The Nebraska experiment station
gives the following account of expert
ments in feeding on hay with and
without grain:
During the winter of 1902, twelve
Aberdeen Angus steer calves were fed
to determine whether or not a small
grain allowance added to a ration Of
alfalfa and prairie hay would prove a
more economical method OF wintering.
Six of the calves received no grain,
while the other six had four pounds
day Of corn. oats and bran in addit-
ion to the hay. The hay was eigasy
per cent alfalfa and twenty per cent
prairie hay. During the winter period.