REI'ORT OF MR. THOilAS A. SHARI'E 455 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



SHEEP. 



The flock at present consists of fifteen ewes and ewe Icmbs, and six rams. Three 

 ewes were lost since my last report, one died of old age, and the other two from un- 

 known causes, as the flock has been at all times healthy. Two barren ewes and two rams 

 were sold to the butcher, and one ram for a breeder. The Dorset Homed sheep appear 

 to make a satisfactory cross with the common sheep, buyers being pleased with the re- 

 sults, and butchers say that the grade lambs dress very well. 



PIGS. 



The stock now on hand consists of two Yorkshire White sows and a Yorkshire 

 Write boar, all very fine individuals, and six young i^igs of this breed. A Berkshire 

 boar, three young sows and seven pigs, all fine thrifty animals. 



HORSES. 



The horse stock is the same as last year, but an effort is being made to get a young 

 heavy team, as the area under cultivation is getting greater and more team force is 

 necessary. 



Young heavy teams are very scarce, but it is hoped that before the work com- 

 lucnces in spring a team will be got. 



BEES. 



Seven swarms of bees were taken into winter quarters, but three of them died be- 

 fore spring, and the others were much reduced in strength when spring opened. Three 

 fine swarms have been saved tliis season, and there are now seven strong colonics wliich 

 are well supplied with honey to carry them over the winter. 



FOWLS. 



There are now on the farm five breeds of fowls. Black Minorcas, Eose Co.ub 

 Brown Leghorns, B. P. Rocks, Brahmas and Buff Orpingtons. As in former years, 

 the Black Minorcas have been the best layers, and their eggs are large; the R. C. 

 Brown Leghorns laid nearly as many eggs as the Black Minorcas, but their eggs were 

 s nailer. 



Of the last three named breeds, the B. P. Rocks are the best layers. 



Brahmns and Buff Orpingtons are al)Out equal with us as layers, but the B. P. 

 Rocks and Buff Orpingtons mature earlier than the Brahmas and all three breeds are 

 good sitters, and good mothers, and are profitable as layers until two and a half years 

 old, when they are apt to get too fat and lay fewer eggs. 



The hens are kept in breeding pens, with yards attached, from January 1 to July 

 1. During the rest of the year they are allowed to run at large. 



They are seldom troubled with any disease except sometimes a little rheumatism, 

 which is caused by the wet weather; but crows, hawks and skunks carry off a good 

 many chickens, even after they are well grown. 



W^ have had an average of 60 i^er cent of chickens from eggs put into the in- 

 cubator. These chickens are raised in a brooder, which is kept in a brooder-house, 

 and have been strong and thrifty, but they have not been either stronger or healthier 

 than chickens hatched and raised by hens, npr has the per cent of loss been greater 

 from any cause. 



The hens are fed mixed grains, f wheat, i oats and ^ pease, sunflower seeds in the 

 autumn, and during the coldest weatl^er in winter they get once a day boiled roots 

 and chop mixed, and a cabbage head or some vegetable always before them. 



