Sheep Are Profitable and Assist in Clearing the Land 



dropped as early as possible in December and January and the last of May should 

 find all lambs for sale gone to market and the money in the farmer's home bank. 

 The Mississippi flock masters should set out to produce the 100-day fat lamb and 

 have them all gone to the market by June. The ewes, thus freed from suckling so 

 early, go through the summer in much better condition, come to the breeding 

 season earlier and in better flesh and they are sure to shear a heavier fleece of 

 wool. Velvet bean forage, in cornfields, oats and rye, should be relied on for 

 winter feed for ewes. If an acre of velvet beans will carry 25 sheep through the 

 winter, as the Agricultural Commissioner of one of the Southern states avers, then 

 ten acres of velvet beans would provide winter pasture for 250 sheep, making it 

 economical to carry over large flocks from summer grazing. What applies to 

 sheep applies with equal force to goats, except that goats are hardier, require less 

 feeding and are immune from many diseases that sheep are heir to. 



If sheep or cattle were intelligently herded and their grazing directed by 

 shifting from one grazing area to another, leaving sufficient acreage entirely 

 untouched until winter months, the reserve pasture would have twice the carrying 

 power over that of the range taxed to its full capacity during the summer months. 

 If well-set carpet grass be allowed to go to seed after July, the tops will fall down 

 over the matted roots and will greatly benefit and protect the green pasturage 

 all winter. Same is true of Bermuda grass. Sheep and goats find a sappy and 

 budding condition of shrubbery during most of the winter, and beggar-weed also 

 retains nutriment in the winter season. 



A committee appointed by the National Wool Growers' Association to inves- 

 tigate cut-over lands in Mississippi for sheep, made the following report: 



"There is no doubt in the minds of your Committee that there is no place in 

 the United States that offers better opportunities for the man who wants to 

 combine farming and stock raising than this Mississippi country does." 



The Committee, by inference, questioned the carrying power of our grasses for 

 sheep and cattle after the frosts have struck them in the winter. There is little 

 or no question about preparing a reasonable amount of feed to supplement the 

 pasturage during the short, lean grazing period. In such emergency cultivated 

 fields or pasture could be utilized. Abruzzi rye, wheat, oats, burr and crimson 

 clover make most excellent pasture. Soy and velvet beans and cow peas, after the 

 frost strikes them in the cornfields, are most nutritious feeds. Pea vine and Les- 

 pedeza hay may be saved in quantities and ensilage may be preserved in unlimited 

 supply. Root and forage crops are fine supplementary crops. 



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