The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-11-22

For several years the accumulations
from his wages, over and above his
personal necessities for clothing
were loaned to farmers at the regular
rate of interest, and the sum of his
possessions began to reach good pro-
portions.
Venture with Dorset Horned Sheep.
His love for good stock led him to
make a purchase before he owned
any farm. His first purchase was
two imported Dorset horned ewes
that were said to be in lamb, but as
they proved not to be he was obliged
to buy a ram. Mr.. Woodman had
these sheep kept and cared for, sell
Ding the male lambs and retaining the
ewes. AS they increased rapidly, the
ewes producing twins and sometimes
triplets-and that, too, twice year,
1T became necessary either to sell
the sheep or buy farm. AS he had
worked on farms in different parts of
the state, he was familiar with the
advantages and disadvantages of the
different localities.
Buying a Farm.
Instead of going into a new coun-
try where land was cheap and work
ing out his own improvements, he de-
oided to buy in Shiawassee, a county
rural homes. In 1899 he bought the
200-acre farm where he now resides
at $4,000, which left him heavily in
debt. Not having the necessary
equipments for running the farm, he
rented it two years and worked out
by the month, and with the wages
and the income from the then rapid
ly increasing flock of sheep bought
teams and tools.
In 1901 he took to himself wife,
who stands by his side to divide the
sorrows and double the joys of life,
and who shares the burdens neces-
sary to make and maintain a first
class rural home.
The Farm Management.
Mr.. Woodman had been good
student at farm management during
the years he worked for good farmers
and stockmen in this state and Can
ada. A well defined system of rota-
ton is practiced. Glover is the first
and principal crop, followed by corn,
oats and wheat, then seded to clover,
making a four year course. Like
many of the modern farmers, Mr.
Woodman sets a high value on clover
as a means of maintaining the fer
tility of the soil, so that by applying
the manure at a time that will en-
courage rank, growth of clover a
double purpose is served there is an
increased amount of hay and large
amount of root growth, which means
a large supply of the necessary ele-
ments to promote the growth
of the crop that is to follow
All of the grain and forage
crops are consumed on the farm,
and the manure is utilized as best it
can be under present conditions.
The soil is loamy gravel, rich in
fertility and easily worked.
The Sheep.
AS might be expected, the breed
ing and handling Of the flock of Dor
set Horned sheep are the leading
features of the farm operations. To
understand why certain methods are
followed it may be well to state that
this breed of sheep has been
bred pure in the county of
Dorsetshire and Somersetshire. in
England, for many centuries. They
are classed among the medium
wooled sheep. They are hardy
and very prolific; they mature
early. possess excellent feeding
qualities and produce a quality of
meat equal to the best of any of the
mutton breeds.
With the facts in regard to the
characteristics of the sheep in view,
Mr.. Woodmans management is in ac-
cord with the best plans to get the
most possible on of them. In order
to do this a system of liberal feeding
must be maintained from the begin
ming to the end of the year. There are
the regular crop roots, mangolds,
sugar beets, rutabagas and field tur-
nips for fall and winter feeding,
with the supplemental crops of kale
and rape in the summer, together
with the liberal use of grain raised
on the farm.
AS previously limited, this breed of
sheep is very prolific. On an average
two-thirds Of the ewes will produce
two crops of lambs year. 1t is
not unusual for eve to produce and
raise five lambs during the year,
three at one time and two the next.
They are pretty sure to have two