538 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
July 30 
[LIVE STOCK 
AND DAIRY . 
THE CARE OF THE RAM. 
WHAT GOOD SHEPHERDS 8 A Y . 
Do you let the ram run with the ewes, or do you 
keep him penned ? How many ewes do you allow 
for the ram ? Is the ram fed differently from the 
ewes ? How much service should a young ram 
have ? To what age do you keep a first-class 
ram ? Is there any way of getting the ewes to 
take the ram very early, so as to produce lambs 
ahead of the regular season ? 
Characteristics of Dorsets. 
We allow from 30 to 50 ewes to the 
ram usually. We feed the ram plenty of 
ground oats, even if out on good pasture, 
during the breeding season. We con¬ 
sider 30 to 50 ewes not too many for a 
good, vigorous, well-grown young ram. 
We keep our best imported rams, so long 
as they prove sure, where they have 
proved themselves first-class sires. In 
regard to getting the ewes to take the 
ram early, we have no trouble owing to 
the fact that the Dorset ewes we have 
will take the ram in the Spring or Sum¬ 
mer if allowed to run with him ; it is one 
of their characteristics. 
New York. METCALF BROS. 
Give Him Exercise. 
The first thing necessary for breeding 
stock is plenty of exercise, and I doubt 
whether penned rams will take the neces¬ 
sary walk around. My Dorset ewes are 
separated into small flocks, and rams 
not akin are allowed to run with them. 
In this way, pairs of lambs can be sold 
not related. The only advantage in 
penning a ram is to reduce his services, 
and to know exact dates ; but I doubt 
whether lambs will be as strong, or as 
many from a penned ram, and if one 
takes proper interest in his flock, and 
lives on his farm, exact dates can be 
noticed as well in field service. My pref¬ 
erence is for aged rams, and I should 
keep them as long as they show activity. 
I would not expect good results from 
over 15 ewes for a young ram lamb, or 
over 30 for a mature ram. 
I never practiced shearing in August 
to make ewes breed earlier, as Dorsets 
don’t require inducements. My ewes 
started lambing October 28, 1897. After 
October, no rams are allowed with the 
ewes until June. I don’t consider that 
rams require any different food from 
ewes ; all should be well fed and not on 
too fattening foods. Good condition and 
plenty of exercise make strong lambs. 
After arrival, good milk food for the 
mother ewes is in order, e. m. gii.let. 
Bacon Hall Farm, Maryland. 
A Young Ram Liked. 
We let the ram run with the ewes 
nights only. Fifty ewes are allowed 
with each ram, but we put in a fresh 
ram to catch any missed, after the first 
one has had a reasonable time to serve 
the bunch. The ram is not fed materially 
different when the ewes and ram are 
both on feed. Usually the ewes are on 
grass at the time of service, when if the 
pasture is good, they are not fed grain, 
but the ram would be housed and fed 
during the day. If vigorous and well 
developed, a young ram can serve as 
many as an older ram. With Dorsets, 
such ram lambs as we sold last Spring, 
lambs born last Fall could serve 50 ewes 
each and keep on growing, if properly 
handled. For general use, we seldom 
keep a ram over a year. We prefer vig¬ 
orous ram lambs. Of course, with our 
prize rams, bred with a definite view to 
improvement of form and fleece, we may 
use certain ones for j'ears. We now have 
in our barns a son, grandson and great- 
grandson of Victor, the winner of sweep- 
stakes in Dorset class, at the World’s 
Fair. We shall use one or two or all of 
these rams to serve certain ewes, for a 
good many years. This family of Vic¬ 
tors we claim to be the best mutton-form 
Dorset rams in the world ; a big state¬ 
ment, but one we are anxious to test 
with any one who doubts it. The time 
of taking the ram depends much upon 
the breed. Shearing and stimulating 
foods seem to have some tendency to 
force the period of heat. The feed and 
handling of rams is a matter upon which 
eminent authorities differ. I give the 
above brief directions, not with the in¬ 
tention of implying that they are the 
only way, or necessarily the best way, 
but as a method that has proved most 
successful with us. Whatever the sys¬ 
tem adopted, care and attention, with 
regularity of feed and service hours, are 
strong factors to success, h. h. miller. 
Tranquillity Farms, N. J. 
A Flock of 50 Ewes. 
At present, I am letting the rams run 
with the ewes. Only now and then do 
the ewes come in heat. Man}' of the 
Dorset ew’es are now bred, and will lamb 
in September and October. If one has 
only 40 or 50 ewes and a good strong 
ram, and he lets the ewes be served as 
fast as they come in heat, it will gener¬ 
ally do no harm to allow the ram to run 
with them, as they will not often come 
in heat more than one at a time. If, on 
the other hand, the ewes ar-e shut away 
from the ram, and the lambs are desired 
to be dropped all within a few days of 
each other, it will be necessary to keep 
the ram by himself, and bring the ewes 
to him each morning. He should be al¬ 
lowed to serve each ewe once, and as she 
remains in heat for two days, she should 
be put in another flock until she has 
passed out of heat. 
The ram should receive better food 
than the ewes, and in more liberal 
amounts, particularly for a month be¬ 
fore he is to be used (unless already in 
tine condition), and while the breeding 
season lasts, he should be fed regularly 
of grain, oats preferably, with bran and 
oil-meal if convenient. He should be 
out of sight of the ewes in a quiet place 
with water and shade. The young ram 
may be as vigorous as the older one, but 
a lamb six to eight months old should 
not serve more than 20 to 30 ewes, and 
with them, he should be given opportun¬ 
ity for but one service to each ewe. 
Rams differ as to the age when they 
are unprofitable to use. Some are in 
good breeding condition for five to eight 
years, but in general, the yearling, two 
and three-year-old ram is to be relied 
upon. Use no ram, whatever his age, 
that is not in a fine state of vigor. 
Stamina, constitution, is the first and 
paramount consideration in selecting a 
sire. To bring ewes to breed early, one 
should wean their lambs early, and then 
after the ewes have had a rest and re¬ 
cruited, they should be given a little 
better feed than they have had during 
the Summer, and their fleeces should be 
taken off in August. This will hasten 
their breeding season from one to three 
months. JOSKru k wing. 
Ohio. 
Good Advice from Iowa. 
I do not pretend to say that my method 
is, by any means, the best, though it has 
advantages. I divide the ewes into lots 
according as I wish them bred, and put 
a ram with each lot. I should allow two 
rams to 100 ewes, or possibly, even more 
than this in a large flock, under range 
conditions, as it is very desirable to have 
the lambs dropped all at one season, as 
much as possible; with hand-coupling 
one ram could easily serve from 75 to 100. 
I do not feed the ram differently from 
the ewes, as a rule ; in breeding Dorsets, 
when the ram is turned in in June, there 
is no necessity for this, I think, if both 
are in good, thrifty condition. For late 
breeding in October and November, I 
think it a good plan to take the rams 
from the flock during the day, and feed 
them a mixture of bran, corn and oats if 
they are being hard worked. They will 
come of their own accord to be fed, and 
there is little trouble in doing this. I 
should not allow a ram lamb, as a rule, 
to serve more than 20 or 25 ewes. I 
would keep a good ram as long as I could 
use him. I consider the early-lambing 
habit one that can be encouraged by 
selecting ew r es that have been dropped 
early, and culling out those that have 
come out of season. I find that climatic 
conditions have much to do with this. 
In England, the Dorset ewe will take 
the ram at any season ; but here in Iowa, 
in a dry, hot season especially, the ewes 
are very irregular ; they will often come 
in season in April and May—which is a 
little too early—but the most will come 
’round in July or August. This year, we 
have had abundance of moisture and 
feed, and they have taken the ram much 
earlier. There is no way of getting 
them forward that I know of, except by 
having the ewes in a very thriving con¬ 
dition, and frequently changing the 
rams. In England, the old ewes which 
are bred to lamb very early are given the 
best the farm affords, and are kept fre¬ 
quently moving from one field to an¬ 
other, and this is believed to promote 
early conception. After the season of 
service is over, the rams should be taken 
from the flock, and fed so as to keep in 
good condition and have plenty of ex¬ 
ercise. H. CODD. 
Iowa. 
We continue to use Shoo Fly with good success 
On horses and cattle, it proves a perfect remedy 
for the fly torment. Paint it on with a brush. It 
will heal wounds and sores, and no fly will go 
near it. _ 
The worst Coughs and Colds can be cured with 
Jayne’s Expectorant. It is the natural remedy. 
Even chronic Lung disease is benefited, and usually 
cured by its regular, persistent use. 
The Family Pill—Jayne’s Sanative.— Adv. 
Horse Owners! Use 
GOMBAULT’S 
Caustic 
Balsam 
_ A Safe Speedy and Poiitin Cura 
The Safest, Beat BLISTER ever used. Takes 
the place of all liniments for mild or severeaction. 
Removes Bunches or Blemishes from Horses 
and Cattle. SUPERSEDES ALL CAUTERY 
OR FIRING- Impossible to produce scar or blemish. 
Every bottle sold Is warranted to give satisfaction 
Price SI. SO per bottle. Sold by druggists, or 
sent by express, charges paid, with full directions 
for its use. Send for descriptive circulars. 
’TIS FOLLY 
To lose the use of your Horse for a single day. If the 
Horse is SORE, CHAFED or GALLED 
Moore Bros.’ Gall Powder 
Will effect a CURE IN HARNESS, or Money Re¬ 
funded. Price 50c. and $1 per Can by mail, postpaid. 
MOORE BROS., Veterinary Surgeons, Albany, N.Y 
Gel Ready for the Fairs. 
Send for description of the 
FAMOUS 0.1. G. 
HOGS. 
Two of which weighed 2806 lbs. 
First applicant in each locality se- 
scure A PAIR ON TIME and agency. 
L. B. SILVER CO. 
1 35Summit St., 
CLEVELAND, OHIO* 
GUERNSEYS. 
225 purebred Guernseys of the best American 
and Island breeding. Butter average, whole 
herd, 318 pounds per head. No catalogue. Come 
and make your own selection. 
ELLERSLIE STOCK FARM, 
KIIINECLIFF, N. Y. 
AT FARMERS’ PRICES! 
Two Registered Jersey Bull Calves 
from superior dairy cows. 
It. F. SHANNON, 907 Liberty Street, Pittsburg, Pa 
TO EXCHANGE 
30 head Jersey Cattle, to ex¬ 
change for Sheep in good con¬ 
dition. Will exchange part or whole 30 head. Ad¬ 
dress (10 Watson Street, Detroit, Mich. 
prices. 
Spring Pigs from 100 Reg. 
Poland China , Berkshire and 
Chester Whites. Mated not 
akin. Choice bred sows. Serv¬ 
ice Boars. Poultry. Write ns 
for free circular and bottom 
Hamilton &Co.,Cochranviile. Chester Co., I’a 
’W" POLAND-GHINAS „ 
F. 11. GATES & SONS. ChittenaDgo. N. V. 
P. S.-We expect to have about2U0 Pigs for Fall trade. 
C 
OLLIK PUPS and BEKKSHIKE PJG8- 
From Registered stock. Circulars free. 
SILAS DECKER. South Montrose. I’a. 
OLIVER'S ti 
ireat LINCOLN SHEEP and 
SWINE. CATALOGUE now ready. 
Send to-day for one. E. P. Oliver, Flint, Mich. 
500 sheep: must be in good condition 
Wf ClflTcU and cheap forcash. Address FISC11 Kit, 
Real Estate Kxch'ge, 1209 Gratiot A ve.. Detroit, Mich 
BROWN LEGHORNS 
—50 Yearling Hens. 
A Bargain. 
G. ASHMEAI), Williamson, N. Y 
SF YOUR CHICKENS W,?®: 
heads and see why. Ti AlMrEE HXTT’H 
DEATH TO LICE OINTMENT will 
fix them quick and brighten the broods. 
100 doses XOc. postpaid. Book Free. 
0. J. LAMBERT, Box 307, Apponaug, R. I. 
POULTRY 
We keep everything In the POULTRY LINE,' 
Fencing, Feed, Incubators, Live Stock, Brooders ' 
—anything—it’s our business. Call or let us' 
send you our illustrated catalogue—It’s free for < 
the asking—It’s worth having. < 
Excelsior Wire and Poultry Supply Co., < 
♦ 28 Vesey Street, New York City. ' ♦ 
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦<* 
SUCCESSFUL DAIRYMEN use one cent’s worth 
SHOO-FLY 
Saves 3 quarts milk daily if used in time. 
NO KL1KS, TICKS, VERMIN OR SORES ON COWS. 
Thousands duplicate 10 gallons. Beware of imitations. 
“ I have used several so-called ‘Cattle Comforts,’ 
none equal to SHOO-FLY. It is effective and 
cheap.” F! L. Houghton, Brattleboro.Vt., Secre¬ 
tary and Editor The Holstein-Friesiari Associa¬ 
tion of America. 
Send 25c. Money refunded if cow is not protected. 
Shoo-Fly Meg. Co. 1005 Fairmount Ave.. Phila., Pa. 
KNOCKED IT OUT 
Inthe First Round. 
Microbes are responsible for 
lots of misery. They cause the 
HOC CHOLERA, 
CHICKEN ROUP, 
SHEEP SCAB and 
FOOT ROT. 
CMororcaptboleum 
PUTS MICROBES TO SLEEP 
so they will never wake tip. Will heal sores and bruises 
quickly. We have direct branches in the principal citios 
of the U. S. from whence goods are shipped. We will 
send you a sample gallon, freight prepaid, $1.30. 
Agency is worth having. Write for full particulars. 
WEST DISINFECTING CO.. 212 E. 57th St., New York. 
of Live Stock for sale in all parts of the coun- 
WE CAN GIVE YOU PARTICULARS try. We charge you nothing for this service. 
Breeders and farmers having stock for sale will do well to subscribe to our Breeders Exchange, 
and send us descriptions of what they wish to sell. _ _ _ „ ....... 
AMERICAN LIVE-STOCK CO., 24 State St., New York, N. Y. 
EUREKA 
NEST BOX ■ which Hens Lay. 
I have just issued a handsome little book of 
_ _____ testimonials written by prominent men who 
have built and used the EUREKA NEST BOX. Here are two of them : 
From the “Country Gentleman," Albany. I From the Poultry Monthly. 
‘‘The Eureka Nest Box Is the best of the “It enables thepoultryman to establish a 
kind we have ever seen.” I perfect egg record and pedigree. 
IT’S EASY TO BUILD. I SELL THE PLANS. 
HART NEST FARM, Box 88, Framingham, Mass. 
Sloan’s Liniment. 
Nothing like it to cure a sore tendon, or 
to kill a spavin, curb or splint. This 
remedy is known to more drivers and 
horsemen than any other liniment, be¬ 
cause it does the work by its penetrat¬ 
ing-qualities. 
Prepared by DR. EARL 8. SLOAN, Boiton, M&ei., ft. 8. A 
Dealers generally, 
YOUR HORSE_— 
if suffering from an enlargement can be quickly 
put on his feet. No need to blister or fire. 
The enlargement will be quickly absorbed by 
50c. and $1.00 
a Bottle. 
