A SHEEP FARM. 33 



here and in his native country, and would advise those who 

 are not thoroughly acquainted with the business to employ a 

 professional drainer rather than risk a failure. The cost of 

 tile varies according to the proximity to tile works. The ex- 

 pense of digging the drain I should estimate at from 12 to 16 

 cents a rod, according to the nature of the subsoil. No drain 

 should be less than three feet deep, when the fall will permit 

 of it. A general system of drainage tliroughout the State of 

 Illinois would not only be a great benefit to the agricultural 

 interest, but it would modify the climate so as to be a blessing 

 to the whole community. 



GEORGE CAREY, 



EOCHELLE, OGLE COUNTY. 



A Sheep Farm — How to Make a Good Flock of Sheep — High 

 Grade Merino Ewes — Full Blooded Long Wool Rams the 

 Best Sheep for 3Iutton and Wool — Plan for Feeding Back. 



SHEEP FOE. MUTTON AND WOOL. 



Sheep to be profitable, east of the Mississippi, should be 

 sufficiently large and well proportioned to sell readily for ex- 

 port to Europe. They should shear, at least, six pounds 

 of washed wool. They should be sufficiently hardy to flourish 

 in flocks of several hundred. They should have such a dis- 

 position to fatten that the ewes, when not suckling lambs, will 

 be suitable for mutton, and the wethers never poor on reason- 

 able feed. I know of no distinct breed that possesses all of 

 these good qualities. 



LONG "WOOL SHEEP. 



Leicester, Lincoln, and Cotswold are each large and well pro- 

 portioned sheep, and shear large fleeces of wool, but their very 

 long wool is not the most salable, and in this climate is liable 

 to become so matted that it will not comb and can then only 

 be sold at a low price. It is also true that these long wool 

 3 



