56 BOAED OF AGRICULTUEE. [Jan. 



breed or kind of sheep shall we keep? For the average 

 farmer, who must depend largely upon mutton in some form 

 for his profits (since we cannot compete with the West in 

 growing wool), any of the Downs, or their grades, will fill 

 the bill if possessed of individual merit. 



A grade Merino, if of sufficient size, makes a very useful 

 sheep, shearing more wool, and being hardier and longer 

 lived than the more open-wooled breeds. The pure-bred 

 Merinos have sometimes proved quite profitable, but they 

 are usually too small and not milky enough for raising good 

 mutton lambs. The long-wooled breeds are not so desirable 

 for this section, as they require a rich pasture, with heavy 

 winter feeding, and their open wool makes them unable to 

 endure the exposure of our cold, wet storms. 



The size and inaJce up of the ewe for general purposes 

 should count for far more than her breeding. 



The ram should be pure bred ; the particular breed will 

 depend somewhat upon the purpose for which the lambs are 

 intended. If early maturity is desired my preference would 

 be in favor of the Southdown. If lambs are wanted for the 

 fall markets, or the next winter's feeding, the use of a Shrop- 

 shire or Hampshire-down would probably give you lambs of 

 greater weight, and consequently more profit. 



The best time to purchase sheep is whenever such as are 

 desired can be bought at a fair price. The month of August 

 is usually as good a time as any. Good breeding ewes can 

 be bought for about four dollars each. 



In making purcliases leave the old ones for the next man. 



The be.st plan for those who raise late lambs is to replenish 

 their flocks by keeping a few of the best ewe lambs every 

 year. 



Do not allow your sheep to run out too late in the season, 

 for, while they may look plump, the grass is so injured by 

 frost that it will not furnish sufficient nourishment, a'nd your 

 sheep will surely run down unless fed a daily ration of grain. 



House your sheep during the cold, wet storms of autumn, 

 if convenient. 



See that the fences are well put up before the sheep are 

 turned to pasture in the spring. If they form the habit of 

 getting out of a certain pasture it is not an easy matter to 



