The Tupelo journal., 1907-07-19
Beet PASTURE FOR SHEEP.
1t Should Be High or Rolling and Al
ways Well Drained.

Two readers have sent inquiries re-
Gently about pastures for sheep. One
has three pastures, through one end
or which there is a running stream
by quite a large amount OF
marsh land which overfows during
wet spells. The balance of these fields
is high and rolling land. This last is
ideal sheep land, but the low ground
is about the worst sort of a place to
Craze sheep. ;
h sheep is q dry land animal and
will not continue healthy for any
length OF time on wet springy soil.
These wet places are ideal breeding
ground for all sorts of internal para.
sites that prey upon the sheep. Foot
diseases are induced also by the above
conditions and any one who has had
experience with genuine foot rot will
do his best to steer clear of causes
that lead to this trouble, one of the
worst with which the shepherd has to
deal. This reader wishes to Craze
cattle oC this field also, and they will
handle the feed on the land far bet
ter than will the sheep, although we
do moi consider this sort of grazing
the best for cattle by any means, the
plants growing on this wet land not be-
ing SO nutritious az those grown on
well drained soil. Cattle will, accord
ing to our experience, thrive better on
this kind of grazing than any other
sort of live stock. One of the advan-
tages of cattle over other classes of
stock being that they are more hardy
and will adapt themselves to. unfa-
vorable conditions more readily than
will other animals.
Had | this readers pastures I
would arrange if possible to supply
water to the sheep from troughs locat-
ed On the higher positions of the
fields, and as the sheep will naturally
gravitate to these places-it being the
sleeps nature to love high points
there will be less danger of their
becoming diseased than if the sheep
were required to seek the low ground
for their water supply. Having ten
cows to Craze On these fields, contain
ing altogether As acres, this reader
wishes to know the number of sheep
he will be safe in running with the
cattle. This will, of course, depend
entirely upon what sort of a pasture he
has. If it be clear of brush and briars
well sodded and in "a high state of
fertility it should furnish feed suffi-
cient for 100 sheep and the ten cows,
but on the average North Carolina pas
ture we would start with about 25
sheep and increase the number we
saw If the pasture would warrant. 1t
will be best to rotate the animals DUR
ing the summer season, starting the
whole number on field number one,
then in about three weeks changing to
number two, then to number three,
then back again to number one, and
10 IN, during the entire season. Sheep
especially require clean pastures, clear
of brush and burrs, as these are very
damaging to the wool, the bushes, by
pulling the wool when the sheep come
in contact with them, and the burrs,
by adhering to it, rendering the pro
duct less valuable to the weaver. Tle
sheep and cattle will aid very mate
rally in keeping the pastures clear of
briars after the old canes are once
cut and gotten out of the way, the
young shoots being very palatable to
both classes of animals, but the bri-
ars must be cut each season.
French in Progressive Farmer.