482 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



however, that although feeding experiments upon mutton and wool pro- 

 duction have been described in various agricultural publications, no syste- 

 matic investigation dealing with the effects of different methods has ever 

 been recorded. The complete absence, so far as the writer is aware, of 

 any definite records on this subject may perhaps explain the want of 

 knowledge of the results of extra feeding among large numbers of sheep 

 breeders who have never adopted this method of increasing the fertility 

 in their stock. In England the subject seems to have received even less 

 attention than in Scotland, and in our own experience the practice of 

 "flushing" is often deprecated by those who have never tried it. So far 

 as we have been able to ascertain, those who have adopted the practice 

 of flushing their ewes are satisfied that the extra cost which such addi- 

 tional feeding involves is more than repaid by the larger crop of lambs 

 <\'hich is produced. 



All who have flushed their ewes have found it very profitable, and, al- 

 though not all the feeds used in the Scotch experiments are procurable in 

 America, it is unnecessary because other feeds will answer the same pur- 

 pose. By referring to the third lot of experiment ewes it will be seen that 

 it could be carried out very simply on any American farm. Nearly every 

 farmer has a fresh patch of second growth clover, and clover can hardly 

 be excelled. Rape is good in addition, and if it were in corn or alone 

 joining clover, you have an ideal combination. To turn your breeding 

 ewes on a patch of clover and rape would immediately affect the ewes in 

 the manner mentioned in the first part of this article. The ewes would 

 come in "heat" very soon, and mating under such conditions would bring 

 about the desired result of a large number of lambs. 



The best results ever obtained at "Clover Hill," in Iowa, were from ewes 

 turned on such a patch of fresh clover. We erected a few temporary "V" 

 shaped troughs and fed them a liberal allowance of chopped pumpkins 

 sprinkled over with salt and oats. The rams received the same treatment 

 and wore allowed to run with the ewes. As soon as the ewes had all taken 

 the ram and refused the second time, the ram was taken from the flock. 

 There were two sets of triplets from this lot, and nearly all raised twins; 

 not a single ewe being barren. Lambs were dropped very closely together 

 as regards date, and this assists the breeder in having a uniform bunch 

 of lambs, which is very desirable. This is one step toward the production 

 of "more better sheep'' which should not be overlooked by anyone. Every 

 farmer can "flush" his ewes in this way and once you have practiced it 

 you will always continue. Attending to such details is what brings success 

 to some breeders while the inattentive are wondering but never succeed 

 as they would like to. 



LATER MANAGEMENT. 



After the ewes have remained to the service of the ram they should be 

 turned on a good old turf. Blue grass pastures fairly well grown are the 

 best after the heavy frosts have come on. As winter approaches a little 

 grain could be given and when snow has come of course hay feeding must 

 begin. Clover hay is by far the best hay produced in the Middle West. 



