Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-02-18
A PURE BRED CHEvIoT.

at all practical, but in the sire we
could have half the flock" good at
comparatively small expense. Accord
ingly the old bucks were discarded
and new ones of better stock purchas'
ed. | have learned, however, that
stock is not the only thing to be con-
sidered In purchasing rams, but that
individuality must have careful con-
sideration. Breeders tell me that buy"
ers are often misled by elegant pedi-
grees. Better get less pedigree and
more individuality or, still better, get
both If possible. Many of the fine
points of the fancy breeder are not
worth consideration by the practical
sheep raiser. who is interested alone
In producing the greatest number OF
pounds of wool and mutton at the
least expense possible.
To the ordinary sheep raiser 1t does
not matter whether the fore wool of
the Shropshire extends entirely down
to the muzZle or In the Southdown that
the wool extends to the knee, etc. In
stead Of these fine points 1t Is better
to see, no matter what the breed, that
the individual is growthy, compact and
uniform, of good quality, rugged in
general constitution, with wide, deep
chest. good spring of ribs and Is well
quartered-in short, that the animal Is
there.
One of my first troubles was with
dogs. OF course there were no at
tacks as long as the sheep were kept
indoors at night, but when the wealth
er turned warm and the sheep were
on pasture 1t was thought sufficient to
conflne them at night In small lot adj
jacent to the dooryard. However, we
were greatly surprised one morning to
find the torn and bleeding form Of a
strong eve lying not fifty feet from
the house. Now our sheep are invaria-
bly, confined In a barn or other dog
proof inclosure every night in the
year. 1t is the only safe and humane
way Of treating this timid and inno-
cent animal.
External parasites were soon pres
ent In large numbers. and it was soon
apparent that something must be done
else disease and death would result.
These pests were constantly sapping
the very lifeblood Of the helpless ami
mails. There was but one way to con-
troll them, and that was by dipping.
All necessary preparation, including
the installation Of large tank, was
soon made. Now the persistent para.
site that insists on making our flock
his place Of abode may count on being
unceremoniously ushered away by the
sulphur or tobacco route. never to re
turn. In addition to Its use In dip
ping fluid / consider tobacco indis
pensable for treating internal para
sites. 1t happens that this weed Is
one OF my principal crops, and never
fail to see that the sheep have access
at all times to the cured leaf. 1t Il
given by reducing to dust and mix
Ing with salt Soon the animals &C
quire liking for the mixture, ant
they will even learn to consume the
tobacco alone, bitter and nasty as 1t is
Slowly have we increased the size o
our flock. An additional hundred acre
Of land was recently purchased and 1
now being fitted for pasturage. Alfalf'
was included among our farm crops
which plant to great extent dispense
with the necessity Of purchasing cost,
mill feed. The use Of corn and stove
has by no means been abandoned.