fleece on the belly.

IX. Time of Washing and Shearing and Putting Ewes and

Lambs by Themselves.—" My flock is well washed and sheared from the

They are turned on the largest range that I can

The ewes and lambs by themselves, the bucks by themselves; the rest,

counted as store sheep, by themselves, making three flocks. From that time

till after harvest all the attention they get is salt once a week (twice or three

times I believe better), and all carefully counted. About the 20th of August I

wean the lambs, taking them as far from their mothers as I can. Generally

15th to the 20th of June.

spare.

saving a piece of clover stubble for them, and giving them the best chance that

About the first of October I commence giving them about a gill (i^ pt.)

This is kept up until cold weather sets in, and then their

grain is increased about J^ more and kept up until grass grows the next spring,

They have a good shelter if they choose to occupy it. During storms they are

forced to their shelter. I feed clover hay twice a day, and water once a dav,

and feed them grain at night. With this treatment my lambs are kept thrifty

I can.

of oats apiece daily.

all winter.

I claim that the grain fed early in the fall is the secret of winter-

ing successfully.

X.

Time to Sort Out Breeding Ewes.— "About the first of Octo-

ber I sort my breeding ewes.

In doing this important work, I have diverged

from the well established rules of breeders and made one of my own. Here I

would call the attention of the Institute to a statement made before the Institute one year ago, by our worthy president.

He made this statement I

think: 'He raised all the lambs he could.'

Now if he meant that he tried to

raise all that was born, then we do not differ, but if he meant that he tried to

increase his flock as fast as he could, then his line of policy and mine lie in a

different direction

XI.

His Rule. — "My rule is, in sorting for the breeding band, that none

shall be less than

2% years old, and none that are inferior as to size, constituMy year-old ewes are turned with the wethers; and

tion or thinness of wool.

the older ones that have been excluded

XII.

flock,

from the breeders are marked for sale.

The Result.— "The result of this policy is a large and uniform

with strong constitutions and heavy sheerers.

Xm. Average Weight.—" have just weighed three of my breeders,

I

which is the fair average weight of the lot of 30.

lbs.,

The heaviest weighed 140

the lightest 100 lbs., a pick of the average 116 lbs.

XIV. Land Too Valuable to Keep Inferior Sheep.— "Our

lands are too valuable to keep inferior sheep, or to try to increase in numbers

at the expense of size and quality.

—

XV. Time to Divide in the Pall. "My flock of 80 are divided

from October, until they are brought into the yard in three lots, breeders, store

—

DR. CEASE'S RECIPES.

728

Then the breeders and store sheep are turned together for

At noon they are fed light, with wheat,

oats or pea straw.

At night they are all fed about 1 gill of corn each. All

have shelter, and are compelled to use it during storms. Your essayist last

year made one remark that was worth its weight in gold as to the care of sheep,

that was, to be quiet among them.

I treat my sheep so they think I am in

their way, instead of their being in mine when I am among them.

I feed a

sheep and lambs.

the winter.

I feed stocks twice a day.

'

'

very little sulphur mixed with salt during the winter.

for pulling their wool.

I think it a preventive

The first of March I take the breeders and keep by

themselves till nearly shearing time.

In connection with their grain, I prefer

to feed a few roots or a little bran, but do not always find it convenient.

XVI. Time for Lambs to Appear. — "The lambs begin to make

their appearance about the 20th of April.

Great pains are taken at this time

with this part of the flock. Let the weather be what it may, the ewes and the

lambs are all driven to their shelter every night, and the little ones are carefully

cared for. This precaution is used until the weather gets warm and settled.

XVII. Time for Trimming, Care of Fleeces, etc.— "My whole

The wool is

washed and put in the fleeces at shearing time, so there is no waste. The theory

that sheep will not do well for a long term of years on the same farm I take no

stock in. For 28 years my stock has been kept on the same farm and the one

flock is carefully trimmed and examined about the flrst of April.

You see that I have reported a continued progress.

This, I can

Nothing has been

left undone for their thrift and comfort that is reasonably in my power to do."

Remarks. There is one point, however, that I desire to call especial attention to, shown by Mr. Green's carelessness, as he admits, after having given a

whole essay in the one word " care," which would do everything he claimed in

sheep culture i. e. never allow a blooded breeding ewe to run with a lower

grade buck, as his experience shows that it destroys, for some unaccountable

reason, her power to afterwards produce full-blooded lambs, although mated

with a full-blooded ram. By his carelessness he lost, as a breeder, the value of

his $25 ewe, therefore have a care to his dearly bought experience in this particular.

This gentleman's experience was with the Merinos; but as there are

those who consider the Cotswold as superior in several respects, I will give a

short item upon them from the Country Gentleman, a part of which was from

a catalogue of Mr. Harris, of Rochester, N. Y., whose opinion is considered

reliable.

The editor gives it under the head of

adjoining.

assure you, has not been accomplished in a haphazard jway.

—

,

Cotswolds and Cotswold Crosses, the Coming Sheep of America, Furnishing the Largest Fleeces and the Largest Carcass.—

Mr. Joseph Harris, of Rochester, has lately published a catalogue in which he

gives his views of Cotswold sheep in the following terms:

"The sheep are

thoroughly acclimated. They have not been forced they are kept for use for

real value and not for show.

They are housed in winter; they have sheds to

run under, but spend most of the time in the open air. If well fed, and provided with dry quarters under foot, there are no sheep that will stand exposure

;

—

DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

729

The ewes are good breeders

They frequently have two strong Iambs, and occasionally

three at a birth.

I have never had a pure-bred Cotswold ewe in the flock that

would not breed. We let the ewes have their first lambs when two years old,

and they frequently continue to be good breeders till 10 years old. The Cotswolds are the hardiest of all the English breeds of sheep. Of all well-established breeds, the Cotswolds are the largest.

The celebrated experiments of

Lawes & Gilbert proved beyond all question that the Cotswolds produced more

mutton and more wool than any other breed. In other words, they gained

to our severe -winters better than the Cotswolds.

and good nurses.

more rapidly, both in fleece and carcass, than any other breed. And not only

this, but they gained more in proportion to the food consumed than any other

breed." Mr. Harris' experience in crossing Cotswold rams on ordinary Merino

ewes has heretofore been frequently referred to in these columns, especially in

connection with notices of the cross-breeds exhibited by him at several shows

On this subject he remarks: " I am decidedly of the opinion that the coming sheep of this country will be what I

will take the liberty to call 'American Cotswolds.' I have hitherto called these

sheep Cotswold Merinos.' This designates their origin. But the time has

now arrived when the name loses its significance. For instance, I have Cotsof the State Agricultural Society.

'

'

'

wold Merino lambs with three or four crosses of pure Cotswold blood in them.

In other words, these lambs have 931^^ per cent, of pure Cotswold blood in them

and only 6)^ per cent, of the native or Merino sheep. The next cross will have

only 33^ per cent, of the native or Merino blood, and the next only a little over

A few years hence American Cotswold sheep will be shipped by

1}4, per cent.

thousands and tens of thousands every week to the English markets. There Is

no reason why they are not now shipped in large numbers, except the fact

that they cannot be found.

We do not raise enough of them or feed them

well enough. Our beef cattle are better than our mutton sheep. The intelligence and skill of the American sheep-breeder has been largely directed to the

perfection of the Merino.

Wool and bulk have been the objects aimed at,* and

great success has attended their efforts. There are no better fine-wooled sheep

There are many

in the world to-day than can be found in the United States.

But

sections where Merinos are the most profitable breeds of sheep to keep.

There was a

railroads and steamboats .lead to rapid and wonderful changes.

—

time when I thought Cotswold or mutton sheep could not be raised with profit

in the far West.

I thought it was too far from market; but, if cattle can be

raised and shipped with profit to England, long-wooled mutton sheep can be

raised and shipped with still greater profit."

i2e7warA;s.— Notwithstanding the superiority of the Cotswolds in some particulars, the

Merino will

still

form the majority of our flocks, I have not a

doubt, for many years to come, except it may be in favorable points for shipping to England or our largest cities, as our American people do not, as yet, eat

Pork, I am sorry to

half as much mutton as would be best for their health.

Bay, except in the cities, is

other meat.

more frequently found upon our tables than any

DR. CHASE'S RECIPES.

730

Sheep, Value of on a Poor Farm.

— " Some farmers of om- acquain.

tance," says the American Agriculturist, "feel an antipathy to sheep for the

reason that they 'bite close.'

We consider this their chief recommendation.

They can only bite close where the pasture is short, and the pasture is short only

A

on a poor farm.

poor farm will necessarily be encumbered with briers,

weeds, and brush in the fence corners. Under such circumstances w" should

say to a farmer who has $20 or upward in cash, or credit for it, let him borrow

the amount if he has to pay 1 per cent, a month for the use of it, invest it in as

many ewes, not older than 3 years, as you can get for that money. Put them

in such a field as we have described, and give them, in addition to what they can

pick up, a pint of wheat bran and oatmeal each daily, with free access to water

and salt.

They will first go for the briers and clean them out; every portion of

that field will be trodden over and over again, and the weeds will have no

Fold them on that field during winter, and carry them feed sufficient

keep them thriving. Get the use of a good buck in season Southdown

would be preferable and in the spring, if you have luck, that means if you

give them proper attention and feed regularly, you will raise more lambs than

you have ewes. The money will be more than doubled, and the wool and

manure will pay for their feed and interest. In the spring you may put that

field in corn with the certainty of getting 50 per cent, increase of crop.

Remarks. The author considers this perfectly sound advice to any farmer

under the circumstances; and sound to every farmer who has not already got

sheep on his farm, to obtain a few as soon as possible for he will undoubtedly

find them the most profitable for the amount invested in them of anything on

Confirmatory of this see the next two or three items.

the place.

chance.

—

to

—

—

;

—A

competent and experienced

Sheep Better Than Neat Cattle.

writer on this subject says: " One great advantage sheep have over other stock

is,

they never die of the contagious diseases wiiich they contract.

They get the

scab, or foot rot, or something else, and if unchecked it gets them in bad condi-

and would ultimately, perhaps, kill them. But the very worst contagious

which sheep are subject give the owner ample time to treat the

affected animals, and the diseases are generally of a character which yield rapidly to treatment.

But a man may have a lot of hogs and feed them on hundreds of bushels of corn, and about the time the bottoms of his cribs are neared

and he is thinking of selling, some disease breaks out among them no one

knows what it is or what to do for it one animal after another, following in

rapid succession, is affected, and the greater portion die. I have known farmers to be well nigh ruined by the appearance of a contagious disease of this

character.

Sheep are, happily, exempt from such rapid and fearful mortality.

Besides, when a sheep dies and they do die, sometimes,

its pelt is sufficient

to pay for its keeping from the last shearing to its death.

It makes no difference

when it dies, or what kills it, the sheep never dies in debt."

tion,

diseases to

—

—

—

Sheep, More

Made on Them than Upon Horses.— The Iowa

and careful farmer of Indiana, after 33 years'

them that he has made most on sheep, for the money

State Register says that an old

experience, informs

—

DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

731

The following will show what an English

farmer thought upon the subject as early as 1523, and also be quite a curiosity

to compare the spelling of those days with the present.

"Boke,"was book,

and "cattell," cattle; "shepe," sheep, etc. But it will explain itself:

invested, and the least on horses.

Sheep the Most Profitable—Any Man Can Have Cattle (1523)

— The "Book of Husbandry," published in the year above named, by Sir

Anthony Fitzherbert, who styles himself "a farmer of 40 years' standing," in

this work says: " A houseband can not thryve by his corne without cattell; nor

by his cattell without corne." And adds: " Shepe, in my opinion, is the most

profitablest cattell any man can have."

Remarks

— Certainly no higher authority nor older testimony need be sought

husbandry

profitable — only use care, as Mr.

to establish the fact that sheep

is

Green tells us in the first item above, and success is certain.

Sheep vs. Cows— Comparative Profit of.— This subject having been

under considerable discussion of late, as to whether there was more profit in

keeping sheep than cattle, or cows, I will give an item or two upon this subThe first is from F. D. Curtis, in Rural New Yorker, compared with

ject.

cows. He says: " Five coarse-wooled sheep will produce lambs at the rate of 1

and

to the sheep, but quite often they will double their number.

Mediumwooled sheep may be safely relied upon to increase their numbers one and %,

while fine-wooled sheep will return a lamb for a sheep. The value of the lambs

depends upon their quality when kept for breeding; or on their earliness and

condition, when fitted for market.

The price of lambs for these various breeds

will range from $3 upwards.

Wool was worth the past season from 35 to 45

Six lbs. of wool per head is not an extra average for a well kept

cents per lb.

%

flock.

They may be made to average more than that by extra care. A flock of

combing wool sheep,with the same care and feeding which a good dairyman

would give his cows, will average per sheep at least $10. This would afford an

income of $50 on a flock of five in the place of one cow. The proportion of

income would not be so great in a large flock, as the average yield of wool

would be less. The percentage of increase is likewise reduced, owing to the fact

that the ewes receive less care and to their increased liability to accidents.

If

the flocks should be separated and kept a few in a place, not exceeding 12, a

month before weaning time, the losses would be very few.

Remarks. Mr. Curtis being well-known in agriculture, there can be no

—

doubt in his reasoning, and, therefore, his thoughts are valuable.

The next

item is from the Practical Farmer, in relation to general stock, or steers, more

particularly.

Sheep vs. Cattle— Which Pays Best?— The Practical Farmer gives

us the following upon this subject: " How often do we hear farmers ask this

question:

'

Which will pay me best, cattle or sheep?' "

ference of opinion on this question.

Now there is much dif-

Those that keep cattle claim that they are

the most profitable, and those that keep sheep think the same of their flocks. I

claim that sheep are the most profitable, and I will try and prove it. TaKe, for

instance, a 2-year-old steer, weighing 1,000 lbs., worth 4 cents per lb., or $40.

DR. CEASE'S RECIPES.

733

What is the cost of raising to that age ?

First year to milk, grain and hay, $12;

one summer's pasture, $4; six months' feeding hay or grain, $10; making a

This is a very low estimate; everything is down to the lowest

total cost of $32.

Now you see that it has cost $32 to raise this calf. Subtract his keepnotch.

ing from what he sold for, and you have the profit of $8. This is counting

Now

for the sheep. It

for your trouble, allowing the manure to balance that.

will cost to keep and raise 8 lambs until they are 1 year old, for pasture, hay and

grain, $12, for 1 year more for hay and grain, $20; making their total cost from

Now, for the 8 head of sheep, weighing 125 lbs. per

birth to 2 years old, $32.

head, making $1,000 lbs. at 4 cents per

lb., is

$40.

Two clips of wool, 16

weighing 5 lbs. per fleece, makes 80 lbs.