IIQ SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



made with several top dressings on grass land, in almost all of 

 •which, salt proved highly heneScial. In his remarks on one exper- 

 iment he says, "the reader will be struck with the extraordinary 

 increase caused by the addition of common salt." In this case 

 three bushels was applied to one half acre, and gave an increase of 

 1000 lbs. of hay. 



In conclusion I would recommend — whatever the crop, or what- 

 ever the manure, that the dressing be applied at or near the sur- 

 face. Nature always manures in this way and we do well to profit 

 by her teachings. 



Sheep Husbandnj. 



BY WABREX PERCIVAL. 



I enter upon the supject assigned me with extreme reluctance, 

 notwithstanding its interest to me ; for I feel utterly unable to do 

 it justice. I am aware that a large portion of tlie agricultural 

 community are searching for knowledge upon this branch of hus- 

 bandry, and many have preceded me ; consequently the very few 

 original ideas I may present will be of but little worth to the reader. 

 I say original, for I do not desire to use borrowed ideas or expres- 

 sions, as I believe man's own practiciil experience is, generally, a 

 better guide than his neighbor's theory. 



I believe no one controverts the fact, that in nearly every locality, 

 no other farm stock pays so large a per cent upon the capital in- 

 vested as sheep. This being the fact, the question arises, what 

 breed or breeds are best adapted to our climate in Maine, and will 

 remunerate us best for the food consumed, and the Care bestowed 

 upon them. It may not be out of place here to define some of the 

 characteristics of the various kinds of sheep. 



The Spanish Merino is a small sized, compact sheep, completely 

 covered with wool of a fine grade, fleeces varying from three to ten 

 pounds. The Silesian are about same size, not quite so woolly, 

 fleeces frorn two to six pounds, extremely fine. Great care is 

 requisite to raise the lambs from these sheep in cold weather, for 

 they require extra feed to yield milk enough to insure rapid growth 

 and early maturity of their young ; while the French Merinos are 



