1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



13 



Scotland where wood has been used very exten- 

 sively for drains. Nor is that the only material 

 that has been used there. In clayey land I have 

 seen black thorn-bushes used exclusively. Also 

 furze, (whin,) heather, &c., and even tough-top 

 sod, all to good purpose. 



But, to conclude, I would just remark farther, 

 that there are certain wet lands_ which are conse- 

 quently cold and 60ur,where draining may not be of 

 much apparent benefit the first season ; there being 

 certain peculiar elements lying dormant which I 

 cannot scientifically describe, that are brought in- 

 to action by the operation of draining which it 

 takes some time to accomplish, and which may re- 

 quire the assistance of a sprinkling of lime, a 

 little manure, (about half the usual quantity,) and 

 some extra stirring, (subsoiling,) and then — Mr. 

 Brown, what do you say? 



There is much that might be brought forward 

 on the theory of draining, and its advantages ; 

 possibly I may take up the subject another time. 



Harvey, York Co , N. B., Dec. 6, 1853. j. t. 



PRACTICAL HINTS IN SHEEP HUS- 

 BANDRY. 



Mr. Editor :— Allow me, through your valua- 

 ble journal, to reply to a few questions often put 

 to us by young wool growers. 



Fouls or Foot Rot. 



Is it curable, and by what process 1 Experience 

 affirms that it can be cured efl'ectively by the follow- 

 ing method. 1st. Pare and scrape the hoof most 

 throughl}', ridding it of all offensive matter by 

 means of a sharp knife. 2d. Then apply a strong 

 decoction of tobacco, in which has been dissolved 

 as much blue vitriol (pulverized,) as will dissolve, 

 to which is added a small portion spirits turpentine. 

 The vitriul is a caustic — the tobacco is healing — 

 and the turpentine is penetrating. In slight affec- 

 tions two applications, five or six days apart, will 

 effect a cure. In severe cases it must be followed 

 up for a few weeks. I have known sheep that 

 walked on their fore-knees, not being able to touch 

 their fore-feet to the ground, completely cured by 

 this remedy. Remember that the knife performs 

 an essential part in the cure ; use it thoroughly. 

 Butter of antimony, lime, alum, white lead, vitriol 

 and other caustics have been used and failed. The 

 tobacco is needed to heal. 



Sheds for Sheep. • 



Do sheep require housing in the winter month ? 

 Most certainly ; no domestic animal needs it more 

 and none gives better returns for the outlay. Es- 

 pecialhj is this true in Obi^i, and other Western 

 States, where the winters are open and rainy, and 

 the weather very changeable. Let a flock of sheep 

 be once thorougly drenched with rain and sleet, 

 and then exposed for fifteen hours to a northwest 

 blast, which freezes the fleece around them, and 

 consumption and death will mark many a victim, 

 and ere spring, greatly enhance the amount ofl 

 crow-bate upon the farm. 



Said an enterprising wool-grower of Vermont in 

 our hearing the other day, " I would not have my 

 flock of 600 sheep once thoroughly wet to the hide in 

 winter f )r S50. Rather than suffer it, I would shut 

 them up 30 hours without food or drink." The 

 advantages of housing are manifold. 1st. A large 

 per centage of deaths are avoided. 2d. Much less 



food is consumed. 3d. A much heavier and better 

 flecee is obtained. 4th. The flock comes through 

 the winter in a much finer and healthier condition. 

 5th. The lambs are more vigorous and likely to 

 live. In short, reason, economy and humanity, 

 all conspire to teach the important lesson — -pro- 

 vide suitable stables for your sheep. And he who 

 can and will not do it, ought himself to sleep 

 bare-footed and alone, on a couch of straw, with 

 open windows and under a leaky roof, where the 

 winds go piping and careering through every crack 

 of his cabin, for six months at least, until he 

 shall have learned to sympathize with the dumb 

 beasts God has committed to his care' and keep- 

 ing. 



Tups — How Treated. 



November is the month for coupling the ewe 

 and sire. As five months usually intervene be- 

 tween conception and delivery, every flock-master 

 can decide for himself how early to have his lambs 

 make their appearance. Ohio can adopt a period 

 3 or 4 weeks earlier than Vermont. The buck 

 should be kept up to generous feed during the 

 tuping season, and allowed to serve from 8 to 12 

 ewes per day only. One leap is considered suffi- 

 cient, and the ewes served should be taken from 

 the flock and placed in another field. In 12 or 

 15 days, a flock of 150 ewes can be served by one 

 buck, with less injury to himself than he would feel 

 by being turned out to run with 60 ewes. Again 

 his lambs come more vigorous and healthy, from 

 the fact that they were begotten when the sire 

 was in proper trim. After the flock has all been 

 served, turn the buck and ewes together for a few 

 days, to ensure service to any delinquents. 



Salt in Winter. 

 Place a box in the shed, in a secure place, where 

 only one sheep can approach it at a time. Fill 

 this with 6 or 8 quarts of salt, and it will be found 

 that the flock will partake of it in such quantities, 

 and at such times as nature directs. When the 

 box is emptied, fill again. 



Do SuEEp Need Water in Winter? 



They do, most certainly. A Dutchman of my 

 acquaintance once shut up a flock of sheep and 

 fed them on dry hay and corn with no water. 

 Within six weeks several died. A post mortem 

 examination came to the very correct conclusion 

 that they died of thirst. His only excuse was, 

 when interrogated on the subject, that "he sup- 

 posed sheep would live without water!" His sup- 

 position was a costly one, and taught him an im- 

 portant lesson. He remembers it to the present 

 time. The fluids of the system must be supplied. 

 Hence, water is highly necessary to the well being 

 of the flock. 



Grain — Its Utility — Which is Best. 

 The kind and amount of grain fed to a flock of 

 sheep, will be regulated wholly by the object in 

 view. For mutton purposes, corn is the best, be- 

 cause its properties are to lay on fat. If growth 

 of carcass be the object, as it shinild be with lambs 

 from 4 to 12 months of age, then oats, peas and 

 beans are the best grains, as their properties are 

 to fivor the growth of bone and muscle. If wool 

 be the main object, then wheat and rye, peas and 

 beans are the best, as they contain a larger per 

 centage of the constituent properties of wool, 

 than other grains and directly promote the wool 



