1900 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
249 
SOME SENSIBLE SHEEP TALK. 
Down to First Principles. 
Get Acquainted. —Some farmers, 
through neglect, lose one-fourth or 
more of their lambs, especially those 
born in March or April. Others save 
every one. and there is no good reason 
why they should not, if the ewes are in 
good condition and have a comfortable 
place. It is not enough to go into the 
sheep barn two or three times a day, 
throw down a little hay, give them a 
mouthful of grain and let it go at that. 
The successful man gets acquainted with 
his flock—many of them inuividually— 
during the Winter, and in lambing time 
almost lives with them. No two sheep 
look alike. Their faces and voices are 
different. The reference in the Bible to 
calling sheep by name is no exag¬ 
geration. Several Winters’ experience 
taught me that they have more intelli¬ 
gence than most people think. They 
learn to know a person wno uses them 
well. A pocketful of corn given as a 
treat at odd times will get their good 
will. They crowd around one of their 
human friends in such cases, as office 
seekers besiege a candidate who has 
promised them fat positions. Of course 
there are sheep with such strains of wild 
blood that it is difficult to tame them. 
Some men do not wish them tame, be¬ 
cause they get in the way; but I pre¬ 
fer this to having them scurry to one 
corner of the yard as though a wild 
beast was after them, as they will do 
after a few courses of the kick-and-yell 
'treatment given by some farmers. 
They learn to get out of the way ii ill- 
used, and will teach the owner such 
practical pocketbook subtraction that 
he will conclude that there is no money 
in them. So much for ihe sentimental 
side of the sheep business, but sentiment 
that arouses an interest in the welfare 
of men and animals is connected with 
common sense, and a good plank for a 
farmer to have in his platform, if he 
cares for the good will of his family 
and neighbors, and his financial success. 
Food and Watkb.— Sheep require 
good hay. A man who has had charge 
of a farm for five years ought not to 
have much of the other kind. A mix¬ 
ture of clover and Timothy is relished. 
They will pull out and waste a little, 
and are too nice-nosed to eat anything 
that has been under foot. The mangers 
should be cleaned out every time before 
feeding. The cattle, which are not so 
particular, will make way with the 
leavings. Even with good hay, sheep 
ought to have some*grain. Corn or corn 
meal and oats, with a little middlings 
for variety, will do. If any sheep are 
not thriving, their grain should be fed 
in a separate pen, where they will not 
have to fight for it with a gang of 
healthy ones. They are as greedy eaters 
as hogs, and the weaker ones stand a 
poor chance. But hay and grain are not 
enough; succulent food is needed. 
Beets, apples, potatoes or cabbage will 
answer, but turnips are particularly 
good and easily produced. After work¬ 
ing the corn for the last time, sow tur¬ 
nip seed on the fresh earth. A pinch 
between thumb and finger at a throw is 
right for an ordinary step. The result 
will be a lot of sheep food worth hav¬ 
ing. Chopped roots daily, or two or 
three times a ween, will prevent loss 
by indigestion and impaction. There 
should be a tub of running water with¬ 
in reach of the flock. It is a poor plan 
to drive them twice a day over a snow 
path to the brook to drink ice water. 
Most hilly farms have springs that 
could be piped to the barn. Some lead 
pipe and a little backache will do the 
job. The price of the pipe will be saved 
in better returns from the flock, and the 
backache will be forgotten when you see 
the water running next Winter and the 
sheep going to the tub now and then to 
take a swallow or two. 
Bits of Care. —If a sheep man needs 
anything more than patience and com¬ 
mon sense, it is a lantern. Not an old, 
smoky, choked-up concern, not giving 
light enough to make an owl wink, and 
liable to explode at any time, but a 
good clean one, filled every day. Kero¬ 
sene is all right if properly used, but 
DON’T set the lantern down in the 
barn. Either keep hold of it or hang 
it securely on a hook. Before going to 
bed at night, one should make the 
rounds of the sheep barn to see that 
there is nothing wrong. Go yourself; 
don’t send the hired man. bheep will 
be startled at first to see the light in the 
yard at night, but soon get used to it. 
In caring for 40 or 50 ewes, a man may 
become so experienced that he can tell 
by close watching of their udders and 
general actions about how many are 
likely to drop lambs within the next 
few hours. Ordinarily a healthy sheep 
will not require any assistance unless 
the lamb be abnormally large. This 
sometimes happens. I remember a 
case where the strongest and most valu¬ 
able ewe in the flock would have died 
if help had not been at hand. Her lamb 
was nearly twice as large as that of 
the ordinary sheep. The owner’s vigi¬ 
lance saved him $10, and he concluded 
that he had sold an hour’s sleep for a 
good price. The weaker sheep often 
need help. Sometimes the motner re¬ 
fuses to own the lamb. She may neg¬ 
lect him for a few hours only, or may 
develop such a hatred that she will 
never have anything to do with him. 
This often happens with sickly ewes 
that have but little milk. The only 
remedy then is to raise the lamb with 
a bottle, and it will usually pay to do 
this. But sometimes strong, full milk¬ 
ers will disown their lambs. Just why 
they do it is a mystery. The best plan 
then is to hold the mother and let the 
lamb help himself. When a boy, I had 
an amusing experience with a contrary 
ewe. She was a large milker, but would 
not let the lamb have a drop unless 
held. At first she kicked so that I had 
to hold her leg, afterward stood still 
when held by the head, and finally got 
so that she would run to me and stand 
without any restraint except the weight 
of my hand laid lightly on her neck, 
although she would drive away the lamb 
at any other time 
These are a few of the methods I 
have known to work well in the care 
of small flocks—50 or less—under aver¬ 
age conditions. Some may object to 
giving them so much attention, but it is 
doubtful whether there is any other 
branch of farming where extreme care 
will pay so well. With the adverse mar¬ 
ket conditions of the last few years, 
only those who have looked after every 
detail of the business have made it pay. 
The careless would better reform or sell 
their flocks at the first opportunity. 
W. W. H. 
Salted Woodchucks.—I would like to 
tell the readers of The R. N.-Y. my ex¬ 
perience with woodchucks. I had set sev¬ 
eral hundred early cabbages, and in going 
through my patch early one morning I 
found several plants missing. I found the 
woodchucks’ hole under the wall, in fact, 
several holes near my cabbage field. I 
armed myself with several steel traps, and 
used all my cunning in setting them in 
the burrows of the woodchucks, but after 
several mornings of patient waiting, cap¬ 
ture by trap proved unsuccessful, and hav¬ 
ing heard that they are very fond of salt, 
I mixed a liberal quantity of Paris-green 
in about a quart of salt and placed a small 
handful near each burrow. I was not 
troubled again that season, and this has 
been my remedy ever since. It has proven 
a remedy invaluable to me. w. s. a. 
Tomkinsville, Pa. 
Texas Farm and Ranch says that, while 
we all admire unobtrusive merit, we buy 
from the loudest advertiser. 
The Breeder’s Gazette states that the 
Hanford-Hazleton creamery recently erect¬ 
ed at Sioux City, Iowa, is probably the 
largest in the world. Its full capacity will 
be 21,000 pounds of butter daily. The pro¬ 
prietors estimate that 100,000 pounds of milk 
per year will be needed to supply cream 
for the plant, and will soon establish a 
mammoth dairy herd. , 
Mark Lane Express tells of a butcher in 
England who was recently arrested for 
having in his possession the carcass of a 
tuberculous ox, which he had bought for 
about $7. He pleaded guilty, saying that 
he did not think the meat was so very bad, 
but the magistrate fined him $100. The 
same paper also mentions four other cases 
in which men were fined for offering bad 
meat for sale. 
A number of deaths among cattle, re¬ 
ported from Australia, are due to an un¬ 
usual cause, that of phosphorus poisoning. 
The phosphorus is used to poison rabbits, 
and the cattle, which evidently are not sup¬ 
plied with a balanced ration, eat the dead 
rabbits for the sake of the bones. The 
losses have been so large in some districts 
that the farmers are petitioning againsl 
the use of phosphorus for rabbit-poisoning. 
KiIIed=Dead. 
You know that the horse 
buyer knocks off *50 or more 5 
for every lump or blemish 
on a horse. Get full value 5 
for your horse—don’t have [j 
any lumps. Cure him with jj 
Tuttle’s 
Elixir. 
I KW 
a forfeit of *100. to cure 
any ease of horse nil, 
colic, curbs, splints, 
! contracted cord, callouses, thrush, etc. 
Tuttle’s Family Elixir cures rheuma- S 
tism. bniises, sprains, etc. Sample of either 4 
Elixir for 6c. in stamps to pay the postage. jj 
\ Used and endorsed by Adams Express Company, r 
For Hide at all Druggists. I 
I Or. S. A. TUTTLE, 30 Beverly St., Boston, Mass- 
Meat smoked in a few hours with 
hRAUSERS’ LIQUID EXTRACT OF SMOKE. 
Made from hickory wood. Cheaper, cleaner 
sweeter, and surer than the old way. Send foi 
Circular, ii. KUALSKJU A ltlio., Milton, 1** 
THE CHAIN HANGING 
CATTLE STANCHION. 
The most praotloal and hnmane Fastener ever In 
rented. Gives perfect freedom of the nead. Ulus 
trated Circular and Price free on application. 
Manufactured by O. H. BOBBRTBON, 
ForestvlUe. Conn. 
COW TIE 
Holds them firmly, draws 
them forwnrd when lying 
down, pushes back when 
standing, gives freedom 
of head, keeps them clean 
E. C. NEWTON CO. 
Batavia, Ill. Catalogue Free 
ESP 
e Mark. 
LUMP JAW! 
Easily and thoroughly cured. 1 
New, common-sense method, r 
not expensive. No care, ao , 
pay. FREE. A practical, ill- ( 
ustrated treatise on the abso¬ 
lute care of Lump Jaw, free to ' 
readereof thispaper. 1 
Fleming Itroe., chemists, < 
Union Stock Tardo, Chicago, 111. . 
DEATH TO LICE 
on HENS and CHICKBNB 
Si-page book frei. 
D. J. LAMBERT. Box 307. Apponaug. B. I. 
Cows barren ,3 years 
MADE TO BREED. 
Moore Brothers, Albany, N. Y, 
with the perfect, self¬ 
regulating, lowest 
priced first class hatcher—the 
EXCELSIOR Incubator 
Hatches the largest per cent, of 
fertile eggs at tiio lowest cost. 
GEO. II. STAHL, Quincy, Ill. 
The IMPROVED 
VICTOR Incubator 
hatches all the fertile eggs; is 
simple, durable and easily oper¬ 
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i ng information and testimonials? 
Sent free. 0EQ, EBTEl CQ., QUINCY, ILL 
IB MONEY IN P0ULTR1 
I 
OurLARCE POULTRY GUIDE 
explains all. Worth #25 to itnyone. 
largest, finest and most complete book ever pub- 
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hundreds of valuable recipes and plans and HO» TO 
MARK POULTRY PAY. Sent postpaid for 16 cent*. 
JOHN BAUSCHER, JR., Box 66, Freeport, III. 
Breeders’ Directory. 
Buff Plymouth Rocks.— Prize win¬ 
ners wherever shown. Eggs, *2 per sitting. 
JOHN H. JANNBY, Brighton, Md. 
A grand lot of Barred Rocks for sale. Eggs from 
exhibition matings. Circular free. 
C. F. GIFFEN, Lock Box 86, St. Clalrsville, Ohio. 
Fowls Cheap. —Singly, pairs, pens. 
W. and Barred Rocks; W. and Br. Leghorns; W. 
Wyandottes; stamp. Eggs, 26 for $1. 
Mrs. J. P. HKLLINGS, Dover, Del. 
Gonulne Mammoth Bronze Turkeys, 
Buff Plymouth Rocks, Buff Leghorns. 
Circular. SAM L EL DUN BAR, B. 222. Klkhorn W is. 
I I HUT DQAUMAQ Eggs *1 per 15, from farm 
LIUM DnHnlTlMO raised utility stock. This 
adv. will not appear again. 
E. E. KEITH, 757 Cary St., Brockton, Mass. 
FOR 
SALE 
EGGS 
For Hatching. 
BIRDS 
For Breeding. 
S. C. Br. Leghorns. 
S. C. Bi. Minorcas. 
B. P. Rocks. 
G. S. Baniams. 
Cln.Tumb. Pigeons 
Homer Pigeons. 
GUERNSEY CATTLE, all ages, both sexes. 
M. SAGER, ORANGEVILLE. PA. 
Knob Mountain Poultry and Stock Farm 
H.E.VAN DEMAN & SON’S 
S. C. IV. and B. Leghorns. 
We make a specialty of 
Extra Early Fertile Eggs, 
$1 per 15; *5 per 111). 
GRAND COCKERELS, from *2 up, 
bred from our winners at, Waohington 
& Philadelphia. Also Belgian Hares. 
Eastern Shore Poultry Yards, 
Box 11. Parksley. Va. 
M U TURK UVQ—tf'sher island Strain. Toms, $1; 
. D. 1 UlUlCilO i» alr , $ 7 . Eggs, $3 for 13. 
White P. Rock Cockerels, *2. MRS. F. H. THOMSON, 
Fairvlew Farm, Holland Patent, N. Y 
Some GOOD young 
JfcRSEY BULL CALVES 
FOK SALE at fair prices. No FLUGS nor un 
registered for sale at any price. 
R. F. SHANNON, «07 Liberty St., Pittsburg, Pa. 
JERSEYS. 
A grandson of Pedro 3187 out of a tested dam for 
sale. One year old, solid, sound, showy, serviceable, 
superior. Bend lor price ana pedigree. 
W. F. McSPARUaN, Furnlss, Pa. 
Hickory Hill Farm 
IS THE HOME OF THE 
“Rissa” Jerseys. 
The “ Rlssas" combine the show qualities of the 
Island Jerseys and the great buttermaking qualities 
of tho St. Lamberts. Must make room for Spring 
calves. J. GRANT MOUSE, Poolville, N. Y. 
Dellhurst Farm, 
MENTOR, OHIO, 
offers a Foundation Herd of 1U choice registered Hol- 
stein-Frlesian Cows, bred to our famous bulls "Do 
Kol’s Butter Boy" 19210 and •'Royal Paul” 22979; 
also, choice Bull Calves out of officially tested cows. 
Diligam— Also, Noufchatel, Cream and 
DUIIerniaKer Liinburger maker wanted in 
private creamery. Give age, nationality and ex¬ 
perience. F. H. GATES & SONS, Chittenango, N. Y. 
Chester Swine, Collie Pups.— 
PAINE, South Randolph, Vt. 
IMPROVED CHESTER WHITES 
of the best Dreedlng and all ages for sale at reason¬ 
able prices. Pamphlet and prices free. Light Brahma 
cockerels II apiece. C. K. RECORD, Peterboro, N.Y 
\Reg. Poland Chinas,Berk- 
I shires & Cheater Whites. Choloe 
I Pigs, 8 weeks old, mated not 
fakln. Bred sows and service 
Boars cheap. Poultry. Write 
for nard times prices and free 
oiroular. Hamilton & Co., Rosenvlck, Chester Co., Pa 
Large English Berkshires 
We offer 30 choice youngsters bred by our Im¬ 
ported Lord Oxford 415474 prize winner at the 
Great Royal show, England. Also winner of many 
American prizes on himself and his get. Dams Im¬ 
ported or from prize winners. Price and pedigrees 
satisfactory. , , 
RICHARD H. 8TONE, Trumansburg, N. Y. 
BARGAINS IN INCUBATORS^r 
S. H. MERRYM AN, Box 4, Towson, Md. 
Incubators and Brooders 
Incubators from 15.00 up. 
Brooders from 13.80 up 
Catalogue free 
L. A. BANTA, 
Llgonler, Ind. 
ir cost us $4,000 ¥™15a 
We have spent $4,000 on our new book. 
“How to flake Money with Poultry and 
Incubators.” it tells It all. Leading poultry 
men have written special articles for It 1W 
pages, 8x11 la Illustrated. IPs as good si 
Cyphers Incubator 
—and U’a the best. Oat hatch any other 
machine. 16 page circular frea. Band licit 
1b rtompa far *2,000 book N* 181. 
OYPHKRS INCUSATON OO. 
W ay laud, H. Y. CUnmIX 
nON’T SET HENS 
> ISl Thb Natl Hkn Incubator beats old plan 
AmLJsio 1. Little In price but big money maker. Agte. 
BBO wanted. Send for cat. telling how to get one free, 
natural lien Inenbator Co.. B 98 Coiumbue, fle*» 
Odd B*t. 8. Room* mode a 100 agg Hatch**, rat sLOO 
2000 PREMIUMS 
were awarded my fowls at 12 State Shows in 1809. 
FOWLS AND EGGS 
Send5o for Illustrated catalogue. rUK wHLt 
CHAS. QAMMERDINGER, Box 86, Colombo*, a 
