Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-02-26
shesp-RaisInrin The south.

Sheep-Raising I'm the South.
John Randolph once remarked, in one of his
bitter moods, 1--WE believe the tariff on wool
was up for discussion,) that so great was his
dislike for wool, he would go fifty yards OFT OF
his road any time TO kick sheep. We are
inclined to think that the old man of Roanoke
was not so unpastoral 10 his tastes and so
averse to Arcadian pursuits as this remark
would seem to indicate, but that the sentiment
was really intentended for the Evolves IN
sleeps clothing" that sought to eat ont the
substance of the people. especially the South
ern people. They doubtless existed then; we
know they form a numerous and respectable"
class of politicians now, and they never felt the
application of the foot or the weight OF gutta
percha, from the days of Randolph to those OF
he lamented Brooks, without richly deserving
it.
Next TO the cotton plantation the sheep
produces the most important snd valuable ma
terial for textile fabrics in the civilized world.
10 this country, thus far, little atten-
ion has been paid to sheep husbandry, how
ever, and only in a few cases an attempt been
made to improve the quality of wool. or dis
cover the climatic and geographical laws af-
fecting its growth. But, hereafter, for reasons
we viii name, we think that sheep husbandry
will not be so generally disregarded, in the
South especially, and that the production Of
wool for the home and foreign market will be.
come an extensive and highly remunerstive
pursuit. We were, therefore, much gratifed
by an opportunity afforded rs recently to OBJ
tain some valuable facts and suggestions with
reference to the geography, soil and climate
best suited to sheep llusbandry, from gentle
man who has devoted many years to the sub
iect SO q speciality, and has established certain
results by rigid course of experimentation.
We refer to Col. NJ. r. Cockrill, who now re-
sides near Nashville, Tennessee, and who for
merly resided a number of years in Madison
county, Mississippi.
As to Col. Cockril's success in sheep rails
ing and improving the quality of the wool By
iudicious breeding we need only mention that
be successfully competed with Henry Clay for
the medal at a stock exhibition in Kentucky.
The defeated statesmen was taken entirely by
surprise, having counted confidently on the
superiority If the Saxon sheep presented him
by some of his Eastern friends, and asked Col.
Oockrill how it was he had succeeded 10 car
rying away the prize so easily. The Colonel
ocularly answered that while Mr.. Clay was
absorbed in politics and looking after the wool
interest in Congress, he was for twenty years
occupiad in improving the breed of his sheep
and perfecting the quality of his wool. But
greater triumph awaited him in much lar
ger and more difficult field of competition;
sample of bis wool, produced from the Electo-
raj Saxony breed of sheep; was put on exhibit
ton at the London Fair in 1851, and took the
prize over all competitors from nearly every
part of the world. The specimen exhibited
at the Worlds Fair was raised in Tennessee,
but Col. Oockrill assures us that he had pro-
duced wool in Madison county, Mississippi,
even softer in texture and of a better quality
in every respect than that produced in Ten
nessee or elsewhere.
From these and many cOrrobOrative facts
ascertained in the long and intelligent expert
ence of Col. Cockrill, we think that two lead
ing conclusions are deducble: LIST. That wool
equal to and surprising that of any country in
the world can be grown in the United States.
I'd. That in the United States the locality best
adapted to wool growing is belt lying near
the sd parallel of latitude, extending about
three degrees north and one and a half degrees
south, and stretching longitudnally from the
Atlantic seaboard to the region bordering on
the head waters of the Rio Grande. In other
words, it appears that the region which expe-
rience has proved to be the best adapted, on
account of climate and soil, and the admirable
arrangement Of the wet and dry seasons, or
rather the peculiar apportiorment Of dryness
and moisture, for the successful cultivation of
cotton, is also fitted for the growth of wool,
thuspacing it in the power of the South to
control the two great textile staples Of COM
MERGE and manufacture.
The diversion of considerable portion of
II IL oF h. Il, II
of wool as one of her staples, would not only
give q broader foundation to her commerce,
but it would arrest partially at least, that dam
gerous tendency to congestion which results
from the high price of cotton and scarcity of
slave labor This congestion, this concentra>
ton of capital labor within q crcumscribed
area, might produce the apparent glow and
seeming vigor of intense health; but we fear
the one would be the transient flush of a fever,
and the other the spasmodic strength often
witnessed in disease. Events are every day
Occurring to direct attention to the importance
of diversfying the industry and productions
of the South, and of turning those large tracts
of lands in the old cotton growing States to se.
count, which, measurably worn ont as they
are, are abandoned by the cotton-plsnter in
consequence of the excessive price Of slaves, the
relative cheapness Of lands and the growing de-
mand 70 co ten.
These considerations very naturally prompt
the owner of slaves whose land is "tired, "
either 10 cell his slaves to those who can make
a much more profitable use of them or emf
CRATE TO fresher and more productive land.
Consequently in South Carolina, Georgia, Ala
bama and Mississippi, thousands OF acres must
become waste and reproductive. Here sheep
husbandry becomes important ms well as avail
liable. For sheep may be raised and the finest
quality of wool grown on these abandoned
lands, and with very little labor. 1t is es!i.
mated that an acre Of land, properly prepared
will sustain at least six sheep. One man, in
sheep husbandry, can attend to forty acres and
240sheep, each one yielding, beside smuttOn, 4
pounds of WOOL or 1860 pounds in the aggre
gate, which at thirty cents per pound land ths
finest wool would bring a dollar per pound)
would yield $3lS, as the produce of One hand
In sheep husbsndry, too, the land would be
gradually undergoing renovation, and without
the assistance of gusno or other expensive res
toratives, would be growing every year more
productive, and could finally be again used 70;
purposes of agriculture exclusively. We trust
that the owners of lands, which have been ex
hausted by the too persistent cultivation o.
cotton, or some other crop, will not abandon
them altogether, without giving sheep hus.
bandry trial.--N. o. Delta.
The Grand Jury.On the BurdelI Murder
The n. Y. Times Of the 18th hiss the follow
ing paragraph:
Several witnesses In the Burdell murder
| case, who were deferred from presenting them
selves at the Ooroners inquest by the extraor
binary treatment which that official EXTENDED
| to all connected with the case, have given In
formation of Importance ID the Grand Jury
| nd tranas bava haan fonnd which ,,ay laaJ >,