The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-05-20

'A1 ahS3E SsN'vSl'eSS' ~ = ~ ssnSePf
adopted. We may begin with afew
pure.bfed sheep Of the breed selected,
or We may begin with "a Small dock OF
common Or grade ewes; which should
be mated with u pure.bred ram Of one
of the down breedsryA Al middle course
may be; adopted byabuyIng a, pure.bred
ram and q few purebred ewes and en-.
larging The Number byathe addition OF
as many grade ewes aslmay be deem.
ed expedient. Beginning In this way;
flock OF pure'bred sheep may be rap.
Idly built up. and as the pure.bred
flock increases the grades may be
eliminated.
For the man without experience and
who is engaging in the business to sup.
ply the butcher market with lambs or
mutton sheep. there is probably no
better way TO begin the business than;
by buying a small bunch OF good,
sound, healthy young grade ewes and
4 pure.bred ram OF one OF the down
breeds, and gradually grading up the
dock by selecting, the best eve lambs
avery year. The sire Is OF primary i'm.
portapce, and under no circumstances
should anything but a pure-bred ram
SoeIased. To avoid in.breeding It win
oe necessary to change sires frequently,
but while the flock Is small the ram
may be bred to his own offspring with.
ont serious risk, but ia.breeaiag
should not go beyond this. When the
flock becomes numerous enough to
Justify or necessitate the keeping OF
TWO or more rams, in-breedlng may be-
entirely avoided. In grading up flock.
Of sheep. in order to maintain uni.
formlty in size. form and type, when
the ram Is changed the new.pne should
be OF the same breed, and Care should
be taken that he is not akin 10 the old
one. The ram Is very much more than
hal iof the flock, SO far as the. iambs
arelSoncerned. and It Is upon him thatI
We Unjust depend for most Of the I'm,
provement OF the hock.
The best time TO purchase the ewes
Is in the early fall, and II they are 10
be had In the locality there Is no bet.
ter place TO buy them. Care should be
taken that the ewes are not more than
six years old, and in building up, the
flock all ewes should be sent to tho
butcher at eight years old or less. All
Inferior ones should be rIgidly culled,
out every year regardless u age. Local
ewes are more satisfactory than those
brought from other localities, and the
danger of bringing In diseases and par.
asttes is avoided. Besides they are more
or less adapted TO the climate and,
other enylrOnmental conditions.
Ee purchasing the. flock In the fail
the new owner can control the mating
MS to time and The selection OF the
sire, and know just when ito look
for the lambs. The young ewes
should not be permitted to produce
lambs much before they are two
years old. When they are bred
younger they never make the same,
development, and especially is 1t i'm.
portant that the mutton breeds should
shoulu iot DC pred 100 young, as size
Is matter OF primary Importance in,
mutton production.
In order to be certain Of the age Of.
every stsep in the flock, and a com.
plete record kept as to wool and
lambs produced. some system OF mark,
Ing should be adopted. Very satlsfacl
tory ear tags are manufactured, which.
are numbered SO that the number Of
each sheep may be entered in a suit
able flock book and the record entered.
from year 10 year. Such data Is OF In.
estimable value in culling out the lnfe.l
rior sheep and in breeding up the tiocks
With the natural Instincts Of shep.
herd, good start and careful study OF.
the needs and habits OF his flock, sue.
cess In the sheep business on the hills
OF West Virginia Is assured.
T. c. ATKES0N, y
College OF Agriculture. West Virginia
University.