290 



On Stall Feeding Sheep. 



Vol. II 



from you, for tlieir treatment, and how they 

 can be best improved and stallfed, will be 

 thankfully received by those who wish to em- 

 ulate his example — and profit by hjs valuable 

 enterprise. Below, I have proposed some que- 

 ries for you to answer ;it your leisure, on the 

 interesting subject of feeding sheep, — with- 

 out a wish however to confine you to them. 

 Any other information than they ask for, and 

 in your power, I feel assured you will impart 

 and by so doing, much obiioe yours, &c. 

 James W. Thomson, 

 Cor. Sec. Agricultural Society. 

 Wilmington, .\pril 8, 1838. 



To James W. Thomson, M. D. 



Esteemed Friend: — Thy favor on the sub- 

 ject of sheep was duly received, and 1 will 

 comply with thy request with pleasure as far 

 as I am able. Samuel West, to whom thee has 

 alluded, a practical farmer near Chester, Pa., 

 feeds about lUO sheep per year — he purchases 

 them in September, and, if possible, selects a 

 mixed breed of Bakewell &. Merino, or glade 

 sheep. After getting them home, the first 

 thins he does is to wash them in a clear 

 stream of water to cleanse them from dn^t or 

 mud which they may liave collected in tra- 

 veling. They are then turned into a pasture 

 pretty well eaten down for a few days, when 

 they are changed to a better one. It is best 

 to change their pasture every week, particu- 

 larly, if the fields are small. They will do 

 prettv well on grass till December, when they 

 should be housed (see directions in answer to 

 thy 4th question.) The cost of sheep for 

 feeding is generally from ^S to 85 per head, 

 and will mostly sell for double the first cost 

 when fat. 



JohnB. Baynes, ofNaaman's Creek, Dela- 

 ware, keeps a breeding stock, the fine quali- 

 ty of which thee has some knowledge. He 

 allows thirty ewes to one buck, which is con- 

 sidered about tlie right number on a farm of 

 one hundred acres — these ewes on an aver- 

 age will have forty lambs, which at 4 months 

 ofd are worth tour dollars per head. But 1 

 should recommend the yearlings kept over 

 which would shear seven poiUids of wool on 

 ihe 40 head— equal to 280 lbs. at 40 cents 



The food will cost -SI per head 



on the 40 yearlings, 

 T-aavinof, 



Ewes should be kept well tiirough Septem- 

 ber and October, and the buck allowed to go 

 with them on the first of October; after this 

 time it is considered best not to keep them 

 too high till towards March vvlien they should 

 be kept better. Potatoes or turneps should 

 be given them till grass comes. Sheep should 

 be washed about the middle of May, if the 

 weather is clear, shear them ten days after. 

 Some of our farmers may not be prepared to 

 purchase a flock of Bakewell sheep. A profit- 

 able business can be done, and at the same 

 time a good stock raised by purchasing a few 

 good common ewes and a Bakevvell buck — 

 it will greatly improve the breed by changing 

 the buck every year and selling off the okl 

 ewes. In tliree years the breed will be very 

 nearly as good as full Bakewell. If two farni- 

 I ers in the same neighborhood could e.xchange 

 I bucks it would answer as well and be a saving 

 ;to both parties. I have endeavored to give 

 jthee all the information in this and my an- 

 Iswers to thy queries below I now think of, 

 lyet that I have omitted some things I have 

 jno doubt, but am willing at any future time 

 }to answer any questions and impart any 

 knowledge in my power to aid thee and tiie 

 valuable Agricultural Society of the county, 

 whose advancement thee so ardently seeks 

 to further. I remain thy friend, 



Thomas Baynes. 



Queries, by James W. Thomson, the Correspond- 

 ing Secretary, of the Agricultural Society of 

 New-Castle County, Delaware, — with Answers 

 by Thomas Baynes of Wilmington, on the maa- 

 agemeut and feeding of sheep. 



Question 1. — What breed of sheep do you 

 consider best, and most profitable for the 

 feeding of mutton, in this and the adjoining' 

 States!^^ to purchase, principally for the purpose 

 of fattening ! 



Answer. — IlalfBakewell and half Mermo. 

 A breed of sheep from the Glade country, 

 State of New- York, answers very well. 



Question 2. — What kind of sheep would 



best combine the fattening qualities, and 



yield to the tarmer the most valuable fleece I 



Answer. — Bakewell, viz:— Lambs at six 



months old, worth from four to six dollars, at 



' 14 months, yield six to eight pounds of wool, 



j wortli 40 cts. per pound ; at 24 months will sell 



■for ten to thirteen dollars; if not sold, will 



produce from five to six pounds of wool, and 



have a lamb — continuing tlms, till four years 



I old, mostly decreasing in the weight of wool 



every year; at lour, the fleece will not weigh 



! more than four pounds, when they ought to 



....„^ I be fed, and never kept older. It is a rule 



014,001 with good farmers, never to have their lambs 



40.00 



f [% farmers' income from his breeding Jlock. Ij before first week in March 



