The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-08-04

portunity have done wonderful things
in our own country. The fame OF the
sheep as a killer of weeds and general
scavenger has in many cases really
done them harm. 1t is not possible to
make a flock of sheep pay and make
them subsist entirely on weeds and
rubbish which other animals will not
eat This must be distinctly under
stood. but on the other hand. they
want a variety and will do great
things in Kidding a farm OF weeds.
They relish young burdocks. ragweed.
dandelions and will eat thistles II
sprinkled with salt Their three most
important avenues of profit are: First.
mutton production: secoid. wool pro-
duction and, third. the preservation OF
soil fertility.
Mutton as food is gradually becom-
ing more important and prices should
remain steadily on the increase re-
CARELESS of the increas of supply.
There is no reason why the Ameri-
can people should not eat as much
mutton per capita as the English, and
this would mean practically doubling
of the present consumption. Further
more, the big hocks on the western
prairies are gradually decreasing and
this deficiency must be supplied from
some other source. There is a bright
Asture for the farmers sheep. The
kD5t OF maintaining flock of sheep is
very light. and with fair wool prices.
the fleece should nearly pay for the
years keep. Then we have the lamb
as profit and pay for our time. The
time spent in caring for the flock is
a small item, and in summer should
be considered as a recreation. Lambs
of some good mutton type should be
ready for market at from three to
seven months old. depending on the |
trade which they supply. The small |
local demand. especially for the early |
or Easter lambs. Any man located |
near a large city will find it profitable |
tc grow early lambs. to be dropped |
In January or February and marketed |
about Easter time. The selection of |
good ewes and a pure-bred ram of the |
right type are essentials in this bust /
ness and are great factors in the sue
cessful flock, no matter what the aim |
Is. We must have breeding before |
good feeding can help us. The best |
eve lambs must be retained and ewes
past their usefulness discarded. 1t is
impossible to set any definite age at
which ewes pass their best. for it is
largely a matter of individuality.
The second source OF revenue or the
fund, as We call 1t. is the
fleece. Wool prices have been rather /
this year. but there are
numerous causes for this. and 1t is
cot likely to occur again. Tariff agi-
tators and the manufacturers have
both been working against the poor
grower and consequently prices have
been low But taking normal prices.
We find that q good clip becomes quite
IN item. It Is possible to get fairly 1
heavy fleece without sacrificing NUT
ton conformation. and this Is the type
hat is most profitable. Length OF
staple is necessary. but the fiber
should be fine and of sufficient density
% shed rain. The sheep with a long,
coarse fleece that parts along the
back 40 soon as wet Is subject to colds
md other relegated diseases. The time
'or shearing and marketing the wool
) subject entirely TO local conditions.
but we do not think there IL any dan
ver Of not finding . ready market at
he current price. American wooden
import large quantities
il wool each year. and even without .
:Ariff could afford to pay q higher rate
han the present price. Last, and Of
Ireat importance to the farmer Is the
value Of the sheep ~ . preserver of
loil fertility. OF all farm manures
hat OF the sheep II most valuable.
Feed given to = sheep win either be
Utilized IN making mutton or returned
o the land In the most useful form
81 plant growth They thrive best
= : claDs Of food which 10 Ia itself
aelpful to the land upon which 1t -
|1own. Clovers and alfalfa are suit
lble for the bulk Of their ration The
uoet danger In . mild climate - dis
- Sheep are especially subject to
loRnsttes and parasites multiply very
uDt1ly during warm weather. Let
lDck become thoroughly infected with
- 1nD6ty tnDo worm or even the lit 1