SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 401 



and the fast-horse business of to-day, is much too fast a business to be 

 encouraged, as it leads to fast habits of all kinds. To be successful in caring 

 for and handling sheep, one' should be mild, careful, attentive, and thorough. 



A SAFE BUSIifESS. 



"Sheep husbandry" is a safe business, because the capital and risk is 

 divided into small shares. Sheep are less liable to epidemic disease and 

 accidental injury and death than any other stock, and in case a sheep dies, its 

 pelt, if properly handled, will usually pay for its raising, wherein it differs 

 from other stock. It is safe and profitable because there are so many ways 

 of realizing from it. Say, we buy a flock of breeding ewes in the fall; 

 we have but a few months to feed and care for them before their fleeces are 

 ready to sell for cash, and at just the time when we need the money to 

 carry us through the summer months; then in the fall we have a fine bunch 

 of lambs which will sell, if desired, for nearly as much as the cost of the orig- 

 inal flock one year before. Thus, we have realized cash from our investment 

 twice the first year, and got the stock left on hand that we started with, 

 which is not the result if we invest in horses or cattle, or even swine. 



MERINOS. 



To the question, what kind of sheep to keep, I most emphatically answer 

 the Merino, or Merino grades. If you wish to breed stock-animals to supply 

 other breeders and wool growers, breed thoroughbreds, not only pure-bred 

 but well-bred, and if you are starting a flock buy the best yon can afford and 

 from a successful breeder. Fix in your own mind the type or style of sheep 

 you wish to produce. Apply yourself closely to the principles of breeding, 

 good feeding and careful management of the flock, and you are quite sure to 

 succeed. But it is not advisable for the average farmer to breed such or to 

 attempt it. Their chief aim in the keeping of sheep should be the produc- 

 tion of wool and mutton. For these purposes it has been fully demonstrated 

 that the Grade Merino is the sheep for Michigan and for nearly every State in 

 the Union. 



The producton of wool is first in importance, as it will bear transportation. 

 All the wool of the world has been available for any market in the world. 

 Notwithstanding this, the price has seldom been too low for profitable produc- 

 tion. This gives the Merino the preference at once, for without doubt they 

 are the greatest wool-bearing sheep in the world ; then they are particularly 

 adapted to our climate, and to being kept in large flocks when desired, and to 

 the general requirements where mixed farming is carried on, such as keeping 

 down sprouts and briars on our newly cleared ground, and weeds and grass 

 in our summer fallows, and thriving on the scanty, sun-parched pastures in 

 midsummer. 



In winter they can, if properly cared for, be kept in good condition on our 

 coarse, cheap fodder with a small amount of grain, although it is better to 

 feed a fair amount of good hay with our coarse fodder. 



The reverse of this is true of the so-called ''mutton " or English breeds. 



Our climate is not well suited to them, and they require fresh, green pasture 



in summer, the best of hay, with plenty of roots and grain in winter, and to 



be kept in small flocks in order to thrive and do well.* The great value of 



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