22S STATE BOAKD OF AGEICULTUKE. 



resorted to in case of neglect by the farnier to till sulHciently to kill all sus- 

 tenance for them. Our fallows should not be allowed to have grass enough on 

 them to keep one sheep to the five acres ivom the time they are plowed till 

 seeding time, except in the fence corners. But they will furnisli the top 

 dressing for them, if we provide them with plenty of straw during the winter 

 months. 



I will give my method of treating slieep in brief through the winter months 

 and up to sliearing time. Provided with racks to divide the yards so I may 

 have lambs and small yearlings by themselves, and the ilock intended for 

 breeding ewes also by themselves. 1 would provide plenty of water where they 

 could have free access to it day and night. I would also provide salt where 

 they could eat at their pleasure, and if any unhealthiness, as skin disease, 

 snuffles, sore lips, or any kindred disease appear, put a little tar at the bottom 

 of a trough or box and the salt thereon ; they will help themselves to both. 

 Tar is a disinfectant. If you are bothered with ticks, I would mix a little 

 sulphur with the salt, just enough to color it slightly; then witli a clean, well 

 littered shed and yard, I would feed at first some of the best hay I had for that 

 purpose but twice a day and not lavishly; then as cold weather advanced, 

 begin with two or three feeds of straw per week, and in a few weeks you may 

 feed straw once per day, except to the lambs, which sliould have only an occa- 

 sional feed of straw. I would prefer this feed in the morning, and a nioderate 

 feeding of hay at night, so they will eat all clean. I would commence feeding 

 grain to breeding ewes when I commenced tlie straw, as a regular feed. It 

 does not matter what kind of grain — anything you may have — gauging the 

 quantity by tlie strength. Keep the yards well littered with the refuse straw 

 from the feeding racks, and feed sufficient to have all down under foot by the 

 time yon cease to yard the sheep. This is where tlie ])ay comes in, for you 

 will have a large amount of good manure to draw. You will need a little extra 

 help to draw it. You will want the help to stay to spread it on your fallow, 

 and then you will conclude to have a little more help to bind the heavy grain 

 produced therefrom, and you will need a little more help all the way through 

 till threshing time. You will need a few more dollars to pay your threshing 

 bill, and at last you have received more dollai's for your part than you could in 

 any other way. 



I do not indulge in covetousness, but I cannot ride by a farm where there is 

 a stack in the field remote from buildings but that I wish the owner would 

 either draw it into his yard or let me draw it into mine. (I am more especially 

 affected in this way when within twenty miles of home.) 



I would never feed with sheep in same apartment, but keep all out till 

 feeding is completed; they each have a fair chance, besides the chaff and dirt 

 is kept from their fleeces. Shear early, as soon as June 1st, even for grade 

 Hocks. I would never wash them, as I apprehend the time is not far distant 

 when this practice will be mentioned on our statute books in tlie list of cruelty 

 to animals. I believe the persons who have stood in the water up to their 

 waists for three or four hours would plead guilty to tiie charge, even if they 

 had not seen a sheep that day. Next, do up the wool in a nice condition — no 

 foreign matter, no heavy sweat locks, but put it in such shape that you will 

 at least not Ijlush higher than your hat rim when tlie buyer opens out one. Let 

 us have the name and the price for our wools wliicli Oiiio has kei)t for several 

 years, and we can if we will but continue our painstaking. You will all feel 

 better satisfied. You can look your buyer square in the face ; he will return the 



