PROFITS OF SHEEP HUSBAE'DRT. 



I.s it profitable for a New England farmer to keep sheep? We say 

 it is. Considering the size of our farms small flocks are more profit- 

 able than large ones. It has been suggested that a pasture capable 

 of feeding twenty grown cattle, will also feed twenty sheep, Avithout 

 robbing the cattle, and the pasture will be in better condition than if 

 the sheep were not kept. 



In the year 1874 I kept twenty-five sheep and sold eighteen lambs 

 for IS154.83, and six sheep for $26.50, and wool for $30.00. Income 

 $211.33 ; the expense for keeping and sheep purchased, $138.56, the 

 profit $72.83, or about $2.91 per head. In 1875 I kept thirty sheep 

 at an expense of $152.00 : the income was $243.00, profit $91.00, 

 or a little more than $3.00 per head, In 1876 I kept twenty-five 

 sheep at an expense of $73.00, the income $184.30, profit $111.30, 

 or nearly $4.45 per head. In 1877 I kept twenty-five sheep at an 

 expense of $188.00, income $209.04, profit $21.04. I purchased 

 fifteen sheep at $105.00, which reduced the profit of this year. In 

 1878 I kept thirty-two sheep at an expense of $82.00, income $151.38, 

 profit $69.00, or S2.15 per head. 



Another reason why I consider it profitable to keep sheep, is, the 

 renovating of old pastures. If a farmer having old rye fields or pas- 

 tures, would let his sheep run in them, it would increase the value of 

 the fields. They drop their manure around more evenly than other 

 animals. Sheep eat and destroy many wild grasses and weeds which 

 cattle will not eat, thereby improving the pasture. A naturalist once 

 said that sheep would eat four hundred kinds of vegetables, which no 

 other animal would do except the goat. 



In regard to the breed of sheep, I would say a cross between a 

 Southdown and Leicester, the former giving the more hardy consti- 

 tution. It is admitted that a large flock of coarse wooled sheep can- 

 not be kept two successive years without the sheep becoming diseased, 

 while on the other hand Merino sheep can be kept with safety. One 

 thing of importance that I liave discovered by experience, is, that 



