Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-10
SHEEP-HCsBANDRY At THE sOUTH-H. 5. RAN.
DALL'S LETTERS.
TO THE EDITORS.

GENTLEMEN Several weeks took the liberty 81 al
dressing communication 70 my old and hghy-eseened
friend, JOIN s. SKINNER, ESQ., editor Of the New FORK
"FARNER.s LIBRARY commenting upon and reviewing
series OF letters, now IN OF publication in that valuable
magazine in reference TO the expectancy and praccaby ST
more general introduction Of sheep husbGndry in this Sec
ton Of the Union. Not having been able to find room for
that communication, at early period he desired in the
columns OF the Library the editor very obigngv Trans
med to YOU for publication and your paper deseoiy
ENJOYS very extensive circulation in the Southern States the
main obec mad in view-hat Of directing the attention of
our farmers and planters generally the subect-maer of
these ees-w have been far more eectually accomplished
than if my communication had received its original drec
ton. Wyou, them grant the favor OF portion Of you
columns for the completion Of the cusory and necessarily
brief review thus commenced The subject is one of
portance the agricultural interest this section and the
views and cs brought forward by the distinguished author
Of the letters in question such fail to command
the attention, il they do stimulate the enterprise and the
energies Of fellow OF the South the occupation
OF new channel Of industry and wealth.
The fifth letter Of Col. RANDALL as observed in nv ,e
vous communication, devoted mainly 10 considera.
ton Of the direct profits, both the North and the South Of
sheep husbandy After showing, by series of carefully
compiled statistical tables originally prepared for the use Of
"Ccula Of that Officer in ls45, that for period Of four
teen years preceding s45 the average price paid ior GOOD
marketable wool 80 ~ per pound he states the
average weight Of fleece in sheep yielding this description Of
wool to be about three lbs and the average price Of The
less than 90 per head in the fall, and Of lambs while
the annual increase OF the latter would be least so r
He adds One hundred sheep, properly Uttered, VIII make
at least forty loads Of during the one hundred
and fifty days during which they confined div feed il
northern winters" With US, Of course, from eighty to
hundred loads might fairly be reckoned upon from this est.
mate On grain farms il is considered the North and Eas
good economy 10 keep sheep for every cleared
land where mixed husbandy prevails the soil will proftaby
sustain two and where sheep husbandry is exclusively pac-
sed three sheep the allowed Assuming the cost
Of land we'll adapted TO this purpose at $50 per acre the
number OF sheep per at three their cost 81 per ead that
Of their keeping darng the year (n northern cle) about
S25 the value Of their fleece 80 IL per H. that Of
their lambs 81 each, and that Of their manure s9s Mr. r.
shows that nett profit of upwards Of 20 per cent per acre
per may be realized the keeping Of 100 sheep on
81! Acres Estimating the value Of the fleece he present
unusually depressed prces-averagng 81 centsand redu
cling the cost OF the sheep 10 Sl25, including correspond
ing fall IA the value Of the lambs the nett profit even with
al the disadvantages Of northern cline, is still shown
amount 70 nearly per cent per acre on land. worth $40
And these estimates based exclusively the average Of
Of years in reference to sheep Of the ordinary quality
In Southern climate, where land well adapted thu
purposes Of sheep husbandy be abundsnty procured
from 50 to s3per acre. much larger prof, would obviously
he realized The expense Of winter and iodderinl
being almost wholly removed, the aggregate Of main
tanning flock Of 100 sheep during the year. including tn
interest their cost and the value Of the land appropa
ted their maintenance, could no, exceed s25 $40, Will
the value Of their fleece, at the present low prices that
their lambs 62 cents per head and that Of their
would reach sl7OOr clear profit Of nearly three hunde
per cent. per acre on lands worth ST. so.