THE YEOMAN.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 56, 25 January 1868, Page 3

THE YEOMAN.

SHEEP FARMING. A correspondent of the ‘Australasian ’ says : It is often said that sheep-fanning, on a small scale, will not pay in this colony. On examination this will be found to be a fallacy. On a single section of land, if a man goes about it the right way, he need scarcely fear the result, there are three ways of sheep-farming on a small scale—breeding lambs, rearing lambs, and fattening wethers. The nature of the land must determine which of these three kinds of sheep-farming will answer best, If the section is well sheltered, breeding should be pursued ; if it is an open country, rearing lambs will answer well; and if it is rich volcanic soil, fattening wethers will be the most profitable. At present we will consider the probable results of breeding lambs. Let us suppose the case of a man who has been the fortunate selector of 640 acres of land adapted to sheep-breeding, and possessed of a capital of £SOO. His first outlay is to build a hut, which should not cost him more than £2O ; he then buys 100 hurdles, which will cost him £ls, and lays in a twelvemonths’ supply .of flour, tea, sugar, and other neccessaries, which will cost him about £SO, making in all £BS. Having arranged these preliminaries, he purchases 600 good 6-tooth ewes with ten rams, from some good breeder in the neighborhood, for which he pays £3OO. His capital is now reduced to £ll6. One-half of this will be sufficient to meet the expenses of lambing and shearing; the balance should be kept in case of any unforseen accident occurring. If scab, for instance, should break out, unless the sheep are at once dressed, there is not the slightest chance of success. I have not included a horse an cart, as they are not necessary to a beginner, but rather a hinderance. All necessary supplies can be obtained in the neighbourhood. Let us now reckon the probable return of the first year. If the lambing has been a good one—-and let it be remembered that upon the result of this operation depends the success or failure of the undertaking—soo lambs should be added to the original stock. Allowing a decrease for deaths, the stock at shearing time should amount to 1050. The wool of such a flock, if a judicious selection has been made, should be worth £2OO ; 400 lambs should be sold for £IOO, retaining 100 lambs to make up deficiences in the flock. The second year would be commenced with a capital of from £3OO to £350. One-half of this should be spent in fencing the section, the remainder would be ample to pay expenses and leave a reserve in case of accidents. The second year’s lambing would probably result in about 450 lambs, which, added to the original stock and last year’lambs retained, would make a total for shearing of 1050. The wool should bring about £2OO, 350 should be sold, which would realize £BB 10s. making in all £2BB 10s. as the income of the second year, 100 ewe lambs having been retained to meet the decrease in the flock. The third year would be commenced with a capital of about £3OO. Half this amount could be expended in building a small cottage and woolshed ; the other half would be ample to meet current expenses. The lambs and Wool at the end of this year should yield abput £276, retaining 100 ewe lambs. At the beginning of the fourth year it would be necessary to sell off all the old ewes, which would probably number about 400, and which would realize, say £IOO. These would have to be replaced With young ewes, which Would cost L2OO. This would reduce the income to about £175, but still ample to meet all expenses. If there is any truth in this calculation, it will be seen that after three years a selector will have his land fenced, a cottage and woolshed erected thereon, and an annual income of nearly L3OO. The successful issue mainly depends upon careful management and the absence of disease. PEtROLEUM POE HORSES' SHOULDERS.— Joseph Harris, in the “ American Agriculturist,” says that the best thing he has tried for sore shoulder in horses is crude petroleum. He discovered its healing properties while applying it as a paint for tools, by means of a rag held in the hand, which was accidentally sore. He now uses it for sores on all kinds of animals, and for some distance around the sore. Those who complain of the high price of drugs and medicines may be satisfied as far as the healing properties of this remedies goes, for it may be bought for twenty or thirty cents per gallon, by the barrel, and whatever there may be left after its medicinal application will be excellent forputting on all wood orticles to prevent them from decaying—such as ploughs, harrows, wheel-barrows, carts, waggons, hoes, cultivators spades, drill machines, mowers and reapers, horse-rakes, rollers, &c. Use what : is termed the light oil, Which will penetrate the pores more perfectly, and exclude water and air. It is excellent for roofs, sides of barns, and outhouses generally, and may be applied with a small new White-Wash brush. Gentlemen Farmers in Prussia.—MEmile de Laveleye has just contributed an article to the “ Eevue de Deux Mondes,” in which 'an interesting account is given of the progress made by Prussia during fifty years of peace. Writing on agriculture, he points out that nearly all the landowners cultivate their own estates; except for detached portions, renting is the exception. They are, therefore, retained in the country by the care of their own interests, for nothing more imperiously requires the eye of a master than rural industry. It is true they are aided by aclass of “employes” who are not found in any other country. These are educated young men belonging to families in a good position, often just leaving an agricultural college, who remain for a certain time on some large estate to initiate themselves in the practical direction of one of their own class. This novitiate is an ancient custom still preserved in many trades. Thus, frequently, the son of a rich hotel-keeper will not hesitate to enter • another hotel as bUtlet or waiter (Kellner) to be initiated into all the .details of the service over which he will One day have to preside. When any one visits the farms (Rittergutter) he is astonished to see as surperintendents the son of a banker, a baron, or a rich landowner. These young people drive a cart or guide the plough. At noon they return, groom their horses, and then go and dress themselves and dine at the owner’s table, to whom they are not inferior, either in instruction, birth, or manners After the meal they resume their working dress and return, without any false shame, to their rustic occupation. Thus we find in feudal Prussia a trait of manners suited to the democratic society of the United States, and which hereafter will become general. In France, in England especially, a young man of the upper class would believe his dignity compromised in performing the work of a farm labourer. —Paris Correspondent of “ Land and Water.”