Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-03-26

prepared by tha United states Depart
ment Of AgricultureJ
Sheen husbandry should receive
more attention from the farmers OF
this country than it does at the pres
emit time. Unquestionably sheep rals-
ing could proftably be fitted into the
general management OF thousands OF
farms where there Is none at the pres
ent time. On many other farms the
size OF the flock could be Increased
and more attention given TO this
branch of farming with resulting
profit to the owner. according to Bull
letin . OF the department of agricul-
ture.
Sheep have ever been in the van
guard of civilization. This country
has been no exception in this respect.
The attraction OF cheap lands has
constantly drawn the industry west
ward, creating a quite general impress
sion that sheep are Improbable upon
high-pric land. This may have been
true in the past, but the industry Is
undergoing an evolution.
The various phases OF sheep hus-
bandry afford numerous channels
through which the skill of the pro-
Queer can display itself. The breed
ing of pure bred stock offers special
inducements 10 many. while a larger
number are content with the produc-
ton OF mutton and wool for market
purposes. In the breeding of pure
bred stock the beginner has number
of valuable breeds from which he can
make a selection. 1t is not so much
the breed selected that will lead to
success as it is the care and man
agement 1t must be noted, however,
that certain breeds have wider range
of adaptability and are more popular
The number of pure-bred fiocks is
increasing every year and the demand
for good breeding stock is more than
keeping pace with the increase.
With commercial flock there are
several phases that are worthy of con-
federation. Early spring lambs is one
~ the most important, while late
Sing or early fall lambs should re-
Way due consideration The produc-
~ of winter or so-called dollhouse"
~ ABS is we'll worth undertaking by
'E.ose who are favorably situated.
'SThis early lamb is high-priced prod
uct and should prove profitable under
favorable conditions.
Many farmers have disposed of
their fiocks and many others have re-
Trained from entering the business be-
cause of some of the difficulties that
are peculiar to this industry. Among
the most important OF these are our
dogs, parasites and diseases. A GER
tain amount of trouble is inevitable
where these abound, but ordinarily
this should not be sufficient to dis
courage the flock master. Good man
agement and proper care will control,
If not eliminate these difficulties. The
flock that must rustic for itself is the
one that suffers most from these
sources. Sheep are good scavengers,
but should not be made to subsist
upon weeds alone, with little or no
attention on the part of the farmer
The sooner the owner realizes that
his sheep cannot return satisfactory
profits under such conditions, the bet
ter it will be for him. Any extra care
and feed given to the flock generally
yield the greatest returns.
Sheep will increase the fertility of
the soil If they are handled properly.
To do this they should not be permit
ted to crop off the grass too closely,
which they will do if the pasture is
overstocked or If they are kept too
long in one field. Sheep manure, with
one exception, is the most valuable OF