180 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS IN FEEDING LAMBS 

 FOR MARKET. 



The experiment stations nave exhibited considerable 

 enterprise in originating subjects for experiment, and care- 

 ful and accurate study. In due accordance with the 

 newly awakened interest in the rearing and feeding 

 of sheep some of the stations have instituted a careful series 

 of experiments in feeding sheep for market, as a test, not 

 only of the value of the various breeds, but of the various 

 foods and general management during a lengthened period 

 of fattening. Of these we feel chiefly interested in those 

 undertaken at the Iowa Station under the direction and per- 

 sonal charge of Prof. Curtiss, and those made at the Wis- 

 consin Station by Prof. Craig. 



At the outset of his report Prof. Curtiss calls attention to 

 the alleged widely established but erroneous belief that 

 sheep are only good for eating weeds, on poor worn out 

 lands, and that for this use they may be made profitable; 

 while it is equally and we may say consequently thought 

 that they are not fitted at all for feeding on the fertile farms 

 on which, in fact and truth, they are really the most profita- 

 ble stock that the best and most enterprising farmers can 

 keep for making their well cultivated fields more and more 

 productive. It may be said that this let us say distinctly 

 foolish and .ignorant idea has never been encouraged by 

 those persons who know anything whatever about sheep, 

 and the special requirements of them for the very best 

 possible keeping in every way; but by a few writers who 

 have harped on this. subject until, as the proverb goes, "a lie 

 often told is apt to be taken for the truth." It is quite true 

 that any competent farmer, or shepherd, well acquainted 

 and experienced with sheep, may take a poor farm and in 

 a short time, by the aid of a flock, bring the land into a 

 greatly improved condition, and in due time make it profita- 

 ble so that it will yield satisfactory crops of grain or grass, 

 and this at very little cost, and sometimes without loss 

 from the start. But the belief that any man may keep 

 a flock profitably on weeds, or on fields bare of good grass, 

 should be discouraged by all concerned in advancing the in- 

 terests of the flocks. 



