Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-04-02
IVIif IIit q '0ttttI "
SHEEP FOR TIE pRARIES.

again attemp, to write, not to show my in
= competency, butte tell the farmers, aud all who
Ire at all interested in agriculture, what have
keen of sheep-raislug On the pralrlcs. and else
Where. The first and principal object have
h calling the attention OF the farmers to shep-
kisinr. is because think it TO be the best and
hos, profitable business that We can engage
b. Shecp-raising is not an experiment IN the
Fest; il has been experimental, and has pro-
- cl perfectly satisfactory, with one exception
yhicn intend to point out.
! In countries where land is from $40 to $40
ef acre, and fencing timber but trlfle cheap
\ than here; where wool sells at from 80 to
C cents, (and it has been much higher than
bat at The cas-. few years past,) wool growing
es been found 10 be very profitable. so much
J, that it has become a staple article IN many
hates Beef pork, and -four are the staples
y the west. The east must always be our
harket, for We cannot depend on ieFeign eX-
pftalion, owing to duties, and supplles>stlosn
INHERENT countries according TO the abundance
Il the crops. Therefore since the east Is to
bycrn our market, Notwithstanding the great
ciltIes for transportation, we must always
<Av very great amount for treIohts. On the
owe named articles, it now costs from one
ir1 to one half their value TO transport, or
j III so 10 100 per cent, while Oh wool, it will
e cost more than from five to ten per cent.
I|len if we had wool instead Of what we now
I've to export there would be d saving of from
! 10 90 per ceat. of It's value. Then why is
Maha, we raise beef, pork and -four, instead Of
pol p! 1t may be given as reason, because
e can raise grain easier at the west than al
e east. So we can raise sheep easier Oh the
1iir:es than at the east.
I'D have seen many f9cks OF sheep at the east,
ID have seen some on the prairies. J have
n discovered any difference in the health or
2ndluon OF the sheep, except those kept on the
3a!rles get a little latter in summer. The rea-
IN OF this, think is, that they have a greater
4nety grass aud heritage. aud an abundance
1t. The one difficulty which have alluded
!, III raising sheep here, is their annoyance by
Le prairie wolves, which is not very great
lfilculty. A boy, mounted on a poney, with
(me good dogs, could watch and protect from
wolves, flock Ct thousand sheep. He
ould have yard tc put them in at night,
h'dlhlhg IRON three tC four acres. The yard
R ouId be enclosed on three sides with sheds,
3vered with hay or anything that would shell
them from some of the winter storms; and
the other side good picket fence, five feet
gh, would be sufficient protective against
wolves. All Of these fixtures would take
little timber or labor compared with the
bee to enclose a cornfeld Of equal profit.
nk 1t would be low estimate to set the
pitt of the fleece and increase Of the flock at
e dollar a head.
The Meriho's are preferred to Saxon's where
III have been thoroughly tried, because they
healthier and larger. But for domestic use,
FoSS of the Merno and the old long wool
Sii, OF our common coarse wool sheep, is
neraiy preferred, because the animal is lar
and better mutton, and the wool more ser
feabe. There may be othe. breeds which
not acquainted with, better than those men
ped. POOR RICHARD.
Muscatine County, March 20, 1871.
Words Commercial Journal states, that
ne number of passengers, according to tick
sold, who took seats in the cars, for WASH
fon' from February Goth to March 18th, inclu-
was only 1896; the number that came on
ne Philadelphia cars for ashington, during
w., ~ Gays previous to, and Including the
warren, was from Is to 1900: and the num-
ne'onglng to this city, who took seats on
Sd and 18th. which is included in the first
|nber, was $751;