Nebraska palladium. [volume] (Bellevieu City, Neb.) 1854-1855, 1854-09-13

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fertilizing of these lands. It's fh-
res spread gradually amassiye net
work over the entire surface, that
binds the sod together, protected
il from the sun and winds, and af-
fords, in tillage a rich basis for az
ricultural operations. Neat cattle
or horses would staryc upon the
tract OF sandy soil where sheep
thrive and fatton, whilst they MAIN
tain the land in constant progress
sion in value and fertility. The
continual and gentle pressure Of
their feet consolidates, without
penetrating, the earth. The light
and dilfused droppings Of sheep
ferlilize the soil when the copious
excrements Of larger animals des-
troy vegetation and rapidly deter
iorate pastures by the Introduction
of coarse and worthless heritage.
In my personal experience have
known pasture ranges occupied
for dairies become, from this cause
operating a few years, totally in
tested by bushes, johnswert and
other noxious weeds, anb Of little
practical value. The Introduction
OF sheep in two seasons has thor
oughly subdued this rank vegeta-
ton and dotted the earth with a
rich and delicate growth of nutri-
tious clover. When the great
value of sandy lands in sheep hus-
bandry becomes understood, vast
tracts of barren and desolate was
ties, which are now unoccUpied
and deform our country, will be
appropriated for sheep ranges and
with the most profitable results.
The immense and beneficial in
huence of this system-not alone
on the wool-growing interest, but
but upon tho wealth and produc-
ing capital Of the nation-can
scarcely be appreciated. Each
class of these lands, specially ad-
apted to sheep, may now be pur-
chased at almost a nominal price.
Sheep will nearly maintain them
selves during the winter whilst
they have access to the cath, ror
good opportunity ofbrowsing, and
uniformly long after other stock
have demanded yigilant care and
incurred heavy expense. They
have been kno wn to subsist in Vi
gor and health an entire winter
with no food or protection other
than the boughs and limbs Of the
pine. They eat greedily, and are
sufficiently nourished by the poor
est hay mingled with ferns and
bushes. A great proportion Of
the winter fodder Of hardy sheep
may consist Of bean and pea straw,
with the refuse Of the barn. No
animal known to the economy Of
our agriculture can be maintained
with so much ease and so little
expense. These remarks apply
to this branch Of husbandry when
there in occupation of the lands |
have moderated, which are pecu-
iiarly adapted to sheep. Low and
damp loan or clay arc not congo
NAL to their health. Lands Of
great value, from their locality or
productiyeness in tillage, can more
proftably be appropriated to other
purposes, Another prominent
fact must be regarded in an esti-
mate Of the advantages of sheep
husbandry.
Horses, as they become aged,
grow worthless. The OK and
swine can only be prepared for the
SHAMELESS with great toll and ex-
penditnre; but the sheep when
turned off at his maturity, is ready
for market with no other expense
or charge than his ordinary pas
turage. The summer grazing of
sheep upon appropriate lands is a
trifling consideration in calculating
their disbursements. One ton OIL
hay, under ordinary circumstance
will keep ten sheep through a win
ter in the meridian Of New Eng
land. The average value of hay
in that district is So per tom
The inciental expenses Of the ten
sheep, particularly if no credit is
given to their manure or fertil-
izing effect upon p~astuaes, cannot
$1,000. a - IIf4s faFsEf .