Fattening Sheep

We have alreacly alluded briefly to a paper read bef ore the Ingham County Farmers' Club by Mr. Edgar A. Sweet, on the feeding of sheep for market. We give below the paper in f uil : JT SIIOULD BE DONE IN MICHIGAN. It is a fact long ago conceded, that of all the different branches of agriculture there is none whlcta adapts itself to so great a diversity of both soil and il i mate as does that of sheep husbandry. And of sheep husbandry itself, the special branch of fattening sheep is, perhaps, all points being canvassed, as prolitable as any other.' I think it is also a subject of considerable iinportance to farmers. It is a noteworthy fact that well fattened sheep nearly always command a good priee, especiülly in early spring. This demand, in consequence of the gradual :'icreasing exportation of both live and dead sheep to foreign countries, seems very likely to increase. It seems to me that our farmers may just as well fatten their sheep at home as to send them to eastern dealers to be fed, and then in many instances sell them the material to f eed them on. There is no secret in the business, no patent on it; and farmers may as well realize a much larger profit on their slieep as to obtain what tliey now do. I urn well airare that but litüe attention has been paid to this subject by tlie majority of the farmers of this vieinity. Por this reason I wish to say a few words about it. Before engaging in this business, it is of course iirst necessary to get the sheep. THE KINDS TO SELECT. This is an important point, and one which requires some degree of experience and also good judgment. Age is perhaps the flrst point tobe considered. Lambs are quite profitable to feed, as they fatten quite as wellasolder sheep, and usually bring about one-half a cent more in the market. Yearlings are objectionable, especially those of the tine-wool varieties. Two-year-olds will do, but three, i'our or five-year-olds are f ar preferable. Thereisgreat diversity of opinión as to the best breeds to feed - iine-wools or long-wools. It has been our experience so f ar that a grade of the iine-wool breed is the most profitable - chiefly on account of the wool, as the amount of wool a sheep will shear effects the sale very materially. Of course slieep to fat should be of good size, strong and hearty. Wethers are also better than ewes, as they sell bet ter in the market. AVIIAT TO FEED. In commencing to feed sheep, there are i few points which should be close ly observed. It is necessary flrst to ac custom tliem to eat grain. ïhis is best done by feeding them a few oats as the pasture begins to fall, before they are put in the barn. This plai teaclies them to eat grain readily, anc also accustoms them to it, so that the; arenot so Hable to cloy themselves when fed stronger grain. For this last reason, it is well to feed corn am oats mixed in equal parts, for about a week after they are put in the barn Corn is the best grain to feed am should be shelled before feeding. The amount fed per day will of course vary according to the time they are intend ed to be kept. If they are to be fed out to grass, probably one pound per day apiece would be sufficient. But if they are to be sold in January 01 March, two or three pounds should be fed. They should be fed kay at least once a day - clover, of course.being the best, and also good straw can be given them once a day with advantage. Il would be well, also, to vary this frequently with a feed of corn stalks. II is admitted by the most experiencec feeders that it is best to place sall where the sheep can get at it well and also to mix rosin with it in proportion of about one part rosin to foui of salt. This aids to keep them healthy and free from colds. They must have plenty of good pure water. Persons never having handled sheep in this manner will be surprised at the amount of water sheep will drink if they can get it. IMrORTANCE OF SHELTER. Some feeders let their sheep run in an open fleld or yard with sometimes a shed to run under; and sometimes no protection except perhaps a threerail fence. This plan will beat, as they say, the oldest inhabitant. Sheep should be proteeted from storms and wind, but not kept too warm or close. That is. they should have dry, cool, well ventilated sheds, and be made to stay in them. It is the practice of many to keep them in a shed in this manner, and let them out in a yard to feed thein grain. This, for several ïeasons, is a bad plan. It gives the strong sheep an tindue advantage over tho weaker ones ; whereas, the weak ones should have the best chance. Again. it tends to makethem wild and nervous to be allowed to rush from one pen to another. To fatten sheep and obtain the best results, they should be put in small lots, twenty-fiye or thirty being enough together, and kept cïosely confined and quiet. This matter of keeping quiet is very important. AND OF PROPER GRADING. Of course the feeding troughs must be arranged so that all the sheep in the pen can eat grain at the same time. Thev should be erraded in the mencement so that sheep of equal size and strength shall be together, as nearly as possible. Then all will have about an even chance. This can be done more easily if they are kept in small lots. Sheep also feed more uniformly when treated in this manner. It is also claimed by some feeders that more pounds of uiutton, per bushei of grain, can be made when fed to sheep conflned in small pens, than is possible when the sheep are allowed to run in large yards, or even changed from one yard to the other in feeding. Fruit Tree Planting. Mr. P. Barry, the well-known and enterprising fruit tree dealer of the Mount Hope Xurseries, Xew York, publishes some practical directions for setting out trees. We reproduce them as the kind jf information just now in season : THE SOIL FOR FRUIT TREES. The average soil to be found in the garden of any part of our city is good enough in its natural state. All it needs is good, deep plowing or spading to fit it for the trees. It must be free from stagnant water. No one would think of permitting the garden which surrounds lus dweiling to remain a swamp. For health's sake the drainage must be perfect. The health of fruit trees requires this, too. IIOW TO PLANT. Inexperienced persons are very apt to make a great fuss over the planting of a tree, or they will run to the other extreme and cram it into the ground as they would a bean pole. Very common errors are planting too deeply and applying manure around the roots. No manure is needed at time of planting - wait till the tree gets to growing and then apply the manure, if needed, on the surface of the ground over the roots.' Dig a hole large enough and deep enough to receive the roots; spread out in their natural way, and so that the tree will stand no deeper in the ground than it did in the nursery ; then Bil in good surface earth among the roots carefully, fllling every space. When the spaces are all filled and the roots eovered, then begin to pack the earth as it goes in, and keep packing firmly till the work is complete. To the errors I have already mentioned - deep planting and manure at the roots - I will add the other - loose planting which is very general and very fatal. Do not be afraid of making the earth too firm about the roots. THE USE OF WATER. It is very cornmon to pour water around the roots of a tree at planting without stopping to inquire why. Unless the soil is extremely dry, in the spring, and the tree has already eomrnenced to grow, water does more harm than good. And right liere it may as well be said, if dry weather ensues after planting so as to affect the tree, do not sprinkle every day, but remove two inches of the surface over the roots and pour on water enough to go clear down to the lowest roots; replaee the earth and mulch with a little hay, or grass, or straw, or tan bark, or something to prevent rapid evaporation. Seldom will any more water be needed. WHJLX KIND TO TLANT. Most people want large trees, must have large trees; when the planting humor comes patience seems to belost - must have trees that will bear right away' Looking at trees just of the