158 FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 
The full blood Merino produces as good mutton as 
the ordinary country and western Merino grade, if 
killed as young and in as good condition. I have 
never discovered that it did not fatten as easily. li 
costs no more, in proportion to weight of carcass, tu 
keep it. Its wool is worth from a third to a half more 
per head. Wherever, therefore, it is profitable to 
grow the common grade sheep, partly for mutton and 
thus bringing the lambs the first part of February. They are made to 
grow and fatten as rapidly as possible, and are turned off to the butcher 
when they reach 40 pounds in weight. They are thus all disposed of 
by the first of June, and the ewes have the entire summer to fatten 
in. The sheep are bought usually a few weeks before the ram is to 
be turned with them, and have cost, from $2.50 to $3.00 each. They 
are kept upon hay alone until just before the lambing time, when a 
daily feed of turnips is given. After the lambs come they are given 
also a feed of meal or bran slop. A place is partitioned off for the 
lambs, and they are regularly fed. The feed going directly to the 
lamb, makes growth of fat with more profit, in my opinion, then when 
given through the mother’s milk. I cannot say with any certainty 
what the percentage of increase with my common sheep has been, as 
when possible to find any one to take a twin lamb, it is always given 
away, that its mate may have the better chance—one good one bring- 
ing in the early season a corresponding price, when poor ones cannot 
be at all disposed of. They never, however, average less than 100 per 
cent, of sale sheep. * * %* The lambs go to market from 
two and a half to three months old, and have, of course, at that early 
age to be in fine condition to bring the price they should do, or in fact 
even to meet a sale. My own have always averaged me $5 per head, 
bringing more when first sent off, and less later in the season. The 
ewes having only to provide for themselves during the summer, are 
by fall in very good condition and require a very htile grain (which is 
first fed to them as soon as the frost injures the grass) to fit them for 
a good market. They have always averaged $5 also. To this is to 
be added the fleece, when you will see the return has always been a 
good one. It, to be sure, costs more and requires more care and atten. 
tion to fit lambs for the early ma ket, but the extra price they bring 
and the better chance which is given the ewes to fatten by getting oll 
their lambs so soon, much more than compensate.”’ 
