Wether sheep are partly fed upon grass, but more generally upon turnips. The new Leicesters are often fed in this way when only eighteen months old, seldom when they exceed thirty months ; but the upland breed of sheep are generally four years of age before they are considered fit for turnip feeding. Much depends, how ever, upon the manner in which each of the SC \ eral varieties have been guided in the early stages of growth, as their progress to maturity may be hastened or re tarded by the quality of the food then bestowed upon them. With sheep the feeding in early years has more effect than with any other kind of animals.
On Swine.
This species of live stock may be regarded as °Icon siderable importance to farmers, consuming the offal of corn, and searching the clung-hills for every kind of substance which may therein be gathered. To SIN inc the refuse of the fields and the scullery is a feast, and their stomachs are a receptacle for many substances which every other animal would reject.
Many varieties of this animal prevail in the island, but, without discussing them, it may be observed, in general, that the small breeds are most beneficial to the. farmer, because, such may be fed upon ordinary ma terials without putting him to any extraordinary expense to prepare them for market. In fact, swine are the only variety of granivorous animals that can be fed upon the offal of grain, or such articles as would otherwise go to waste about a farm steading. Since the erection of thrashing machines, a much greater quantity of light grain is beat from the straw than was gained when the flail was employ ed. To use this extra quantity to ad. lantage becomes an important concern to the occupiers of land ; and the using of it in raising and supporting swine is by far the most profitable mode of consuming an article, which, in other respects, is comparatively of little value.
Upon a tillage farm consisting of 300 acres, whereof 200 are kept under the plough, it may be reckoned, that a sum not less than 1001. sterling may be annually gained from keeping swine, were the management ar ranged iu a systematic manner. One main advantage of such a branch of rural economy arises from little or no capital being required to carry it on, while the trouble and outlay attending it scarcely deserve notice. With
the addition of one acre of broad clover, and one acre of tares, for the summer and autumn months, and the like extent of ground fur turnips and yams during the win ter and spring months, the whole not exceeding 20/. in salue, the stock of swine that we are to recommend may be amply supported.
Were two breeding sows kept on a farm of the size mentioned, and their produce reared by the farmer, it may be calculated, that 40 swine would be annually fed off, the value of which, in the months of January and February each year, the time when pork is much in de mand, would be 50s. each, even granting that the price of pork was much lower than at present, the total amount being equal to the sum already mentioned. That such a number of sw inc can be supported and fed upon the offals of a 300 acre farm, and the other auxiliary ar ticles specified, may be pronounced a certain fact. We have tried it, though rather upon a smaller scale, and the profit gained has been fully more than is here sta ted. Where such a system of management is pursued, we decidedly recommend the small breed of swine, be cause they will feed in a shorter period, and thrive upon articles that would starve the larger sized animals. When speaking of a small breed, we do not mean those that pass by the name of Chinese or pot-bellied swine. The kind in view is swine that will feed upon common fare to 7 or 8 stones Amsterdam when 11 or 12 months old, or to 9 or 10 stone when put up in the house to re ceive better fare. We are sorry that this breed cannot be classified, but it is by far the best for going on a far mer's dunghill, and will thrive where finer and larger breeds would be stunted and starved.
The modC of management which we recommend is, that a boar and two good sows of a proper age should constantly be kept, and that one young sow shall annually be reared, in order to supply the others when they pass maturity. Wc would cast off the oldest sows, i. e. feed them when they arrive at 3 years of age, which of course would cause four sows to be in hand at one time. These annually would produce more than 40 pigs, which are to be held on ; but the remainder might be sold as they are weaned, there being a regular and steady demand in the country for young pigs.