MUTTON SUPPLY AND SHEEP POPULATION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2714, 20 December 1882, Page 4

MUTTON SUPPLY AND SHEEP POPULATION.

The following letter appears in the “ Mark Lane Express ” : Sir, —It is a serious fact for the producers and consumers of mutton that the sheep population of England diminishes while the human population increase, and it is well worth consideration how this serious hut not irremediable condition may best be met.

In the first place, good keep, just at this season (green rape given in abundance is the best food for the purpose), but generous diet of any other kind would promote the same object), given to the proposed mothers of our 1833 production of lambs, ■would probably result in an increase in number of lambs of 30 per cent., with corresponding increase of supply of mutton. It seems to me unaccountable that this special feeding should have so much escaped the observation of flockmasters as it seems to have done.

Farmers should remember that every well-bred lamb that makes its appearance is worth about 20s at its birth; hence it follows that a sheep farm of 300 acres, maintaining 300 ewes, which in the hands of an inconsiderate farmer, produce 300 lambs, would, in skilful hands, produce 500 lambs, enriching their owner and promoting the public advantage. This increased number might, in many cases pay the rent of the farm with present extraordinary prices—purchased at the small Cost of more nutritious food for a few weeks. For the benefit of incredulous readers, I give the following facta and figures : My neighbor.Mr John 'Westrope, of Guilden Mordon, Cambs., has informed me that his flock of 200 long-woolled ewes have brought him 400 lambs, an average of two lambs each, the number of single lambs having been balanced by numbers of triplets, and this flock has produced an approximation to this for several years past. This year I have followed in my neighbor’s steps, and have raised 200 lambs from 100 ewes, forming part of the aggregate of 320, arid have sold 113 of them for .£OO0 — for breeding purposes. My twin flock are rewarded with a liberal supply of corn, for which they are very grateful, and on clover leys always leave me a legacy of folding, ensuring a splendid crop of wheat.

England expects every man to do his duty, and X should not do mine if t did not endeavour to impress others on a subject which seems of so much importance to myself. Is it not as much a duty to produce two sheep as two blades of corn where only one previously was grown ? E. Kino Poedham. Asuwell Bury, September 4th.