The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-06-04
From the Western Agriculturist. ]
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From the western Agriculturlstl
e. tae. SHEEP, salaa alaa.
Mr. EDIroR;-m preparing an article up
,on sheep husbapdry for your paper, we are
iaYase taat we shall be able to give your
readers much thatiis new. But it is some
times interesting torcad over and sid thought
or .idea=rit rcfreshes oRe,s, mind, and seems
almost as good as newt it is brought out
jim the right manner. Whether we shall be
able to do this, is perhaps question, If.Kes
succeed 50 far, as to suggest an idea to any
,opa 6aat will be of any benefit to him, our OBJ
ject viii be gained
We propose to give Qnr readers, a few,
facts and ideas, gathered from history and
the observation and experience of others, in
Iterspersed with few ideas of our own and
perhaps little theory, in regard to the rel
ative profit offine and course wooled sheep.
In SO doing, We are aware that we Snayt
open wide door for controversy, but that
9snet CUR ,0s1ect,
1t CANNOT BE expected that any one variety
9fsheep viii answer for all sections. Divine
Providence has kindly ordered it otherwise,
end .piacel at our Disposal, anireals adopted
10 our various wants. 1t would therefore be
the height Of folly, for us to attempt to main
tain, that any particular breed, was all that
gould he4nade profitable in every place.
But we Yepld address ourselves to those
farmers whose main object in keeping sheep,
1s the WOOL they produce, and we believe
fhis is the object, with majority ofthe farm
FRS - 0lIo,
There may be some portions of the State,
near the larger towns where farmers can
JnaAe it pro ttable to fatten their sheep for
market. 'but ss q general thing; we think
.shis is not the case, fa,
Ne are inclined to think that many of our
farmers do not make their focks profitable
for wool growing as they are often managed,
Phere is not care enough taken in the selee,
lion Of breeding stock There are to many
faen agaqpg rs, who goin for the cheapest
IN every thing
They appear to take it foF granted that in
order to make money out of anything it must
he pFxGhased at a low price. With such,
the idea Of paying ten or fifteen dollars for aI
good buck, when they could get one Of the
Common sort for as many shillings, would be
regarded as SO much thrown away. They
cannot SEQ that the stock from a buck that
shears eight qr ten pounds Of wool, is worth
any mcre than that from one that shears but
three or four pounds, They cannot be made
10 realize that they will ever get their money
back this appears to be the sticking point,
But we believe that man had better give
twepty dQllays fqr buck that will shear ten
pounds Qf wool, worth forty cents pea pound,
and use him one year, and then give him
away, than to have one Of the common sort
furnished him gratis. Tbe extra amount Of
wool on the lappps for the first year, would
pay for the buck.
But there are senae honorable exceptions
1--WE trust good many! The farmers Of
Ohio are waking up to their true interests,
and all kinds of stock are rapidly improving.
Within the last two or three years, good
napg full kiGOd Merino sheep have been
6sodght into this State, (besiGes some that
were not full blood and though the prices
Seemed exorbitant to the pennywise, there
we're gqpe foolish enough to purchase them,
bas.eyang tkst at least they could save them
pelves by the operation, "a ,s a a1sa
Where mans object IN raising sheep,
is the wool they produce, (and as we said
before, this is the object with q, majority Of
the taFmeFs Of Ohio, he must look for fine !
ness ef fibre and weight Of the fleece. thought
We obtain d very fine fibre, we shah not
make il profitable, for the reason that there
isRot difference enough made in this coun-
tsy. between The price Of Saxony and that Of
Merinq wool, u make up for the difference
in tae Weight t9ethe heeees gss
The most profitable sheep for the farmer
In Ohio, are those that produce the heaviest
Aecces cf medium frmness, and such afe
eEpipeptly tke qualities of the Merino. They
are q hardy sheep, and viii thYiye in any
part Of our State, Che prejudices of some to
the contrary notwithstanding, It is now
abaNt fifty Years since the frstmerinqes were
imported. into this country! The first was
iNp9Fted by FEeRcbman; he started two
pairs bit only one buck reached this coun
fFY aliypi Since then there haye been nu
N9erous importatiqRs made BY different in
dividna|si For a more detailed account Of
Bhiph, WOULD refer your readers to Nor
yell's American Sheppard, book which, By
the way, every American wool grower should
WithR ths last ssy years. there have been
several importati0ns made from France,
which are now attracting good dcalof at
ientioh. They are much larger bodied sheep
than tj,e Spanish Merino, and shear . much
hsuyi9r adeee, iii 1870, Mr.. Collins, oil
Eenueetieut; imported, twenty ewes and two
bnsiss. from the Royal flock at Rambonilett
which weye much supeiior to anything that
i,ad sset hee,l brought NJ this country, yield
IInv Isn heavy fleece 81 very fine soft fbfes-
Ne have several hundred ewes, which are