HINTS ON SELECTION, CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 2gi 



American Merinos. 



SOWERS, TEXAS, July 31, 1888. 

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" I have 300 acres of land located on Grapevine Prairie ; the land is high and quite 

 undulating. Soil mostly gravelly mesquite land ; all fenced sheep proof, five wires three 

 barbed and two smooth beginning with barbed at top and bottom ; posts 16 feet apart. 

 I began in the spring of 1885 with 175 head Michigan-bred ewes and five rams. On the 

 aoth, October I begin breeding the ewes. To every 100 head I turn in one ram in the 

 morning, and take him out at night. On the second day after, I return ram to the 

 flock, or a fresh one in his stead. I continue in this way until all the ewes, or nearly 

 all, are with lamb, then I allow one or more of my best rams to remain with the flock 

 until about Christmas, when I remove all the rams from the ewe flock until the follow- 

 ing October. My land is divided into five pastures, all well shaded and watered. I do 

 not allow my flock to run more than a month in one pasture before changing them 

 around. 



"My flock is divided into three flocks breeding ewes, rams and lambs, and are 

 kept thus separated the whole year round. I begin feeding as early in the winter as 

 weather and condition of flocks demand, on sorghum, corn fodder, prairie hay, corn, 

 cotton seed and sheaf oats. I limit myself to no given amount per head, but feed, ac- 

 cording to the mildness or severity of the weather, about what I think they require and 

 will eat up clean. During the cold and all of the wet weather of the year, I keep them 

 housed in well-built sheds. My lambs begin coming March aoth, and are generally all 

 through by the first of May. I castrate lambs at two to four days old ; dock all at about 

 one week to ten days old, and wean at four months. I shear at about the middle of 

 May, and sack the fleeces 'loose' in regular wool sacks. I have now 475 head of all 

 ages all full-blood Merinos. In fair weather, I always feed liberally with salt and 

 sulphur (one part sulphur to two parts salt), except to ewes in pregnancy. I shear but 

 once a year, and fleece averages for entire flock from n to 12 Ibs. 



"Respectfully yours, C. F. MILLS." 



We extend our compliments to Mr. Mills for the. concise, clear and 

 full account of his way of handling sheep. We have not the pleasure 

 of a personal acquaintance, but his letter indicates that he understands 

 his business, and will doubtless succeed. 



