The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-03
Local Affairs.
legislative Agricultural Meeting.

The Fifth Meeting Of the Legislative
Farmers and Mechanics Club, was held
Thursday evening at the Capitol.
Col. John H. Stevens of Glencoe, called
the meeting to order, but invited to the Chair
T. M. Newson, Esq, one Of the Vice Presi'
dents. The subject announced was "sheep
raising"
Mr.. Bixler of Dscotah, thought there was
no question about this being good stock
raising country, and urged that more atten-
ton should be paid to shelteripg stock in
winter-he contended that when sheltered
they came out in the spring fifty per cent
better than when out of doors. However
healthy the climate was they must be kept
from extreme cold. Every one going into
stock raising should reserve enough of his
capital to build barns or sheds to keep his
cattle in. One of bis neighbors who had
sixty or seventy head, had left them out on
the snow and ice, and they had got so weak
and poor that he had knocked ten of them
on the head, as of no earthly use. He had
never known disease among sheep, and
thought raising them would be profitable
business, but they must be sheltered.
Mr.. Shultis of Faribault, had wintered
cattle without shelter, and did not argue that
was the best way, but thought if they had
enough to eat there would be but little
danger of freezing--enough animal heat
must be kept in their bodies. 1t took a
great deal more to keep them when not
sheltered, but they would come out we'll, if
fed we'll. Cattle must also have water
regularly just as essential as to have their
food regularly.
Judge Dayton of Fillmore, said he had
much experience in sheep raising ever since
be was ten years old, but not great deal
since he came to Minnesota. He was well
acquainted with the various breeds and
had ever been in for sheep, but that they
must be sheltered they would do much
better than any other animal. The Spanish
Merino was his first choice. They would
pay expenses in their lambs, leaving the
wool clear profit. He would buy the best
kind of common sheep, and then cross with
full bloods. For mutton the French Merino
was the best, but will require to be shell
tered. He would rather have lambs come in
winter than any other time: for more wool
would be got from them than if they come
in May. A good sheep will yield four and
a half pounds of wool, which can be sent to
New York and Boston for two and half
cents per pound, paying commission, &C.,
and no branch of farming was so profitable.
The average price of wool was forty cents
per pound, which would give one dollar
and fifty cents per year profit on each
sheep. One boy, wit h pony and dog
can take care of one thousand sheep during
the summer, which would give the farmer
one thousand and five hundred dollars profit.
He had kept five hundred and knew that the
labor to get that profit was much less than
in any other branch of farming. Besides,
in getting that profit from raising the CO.
reals, the soil is being exhausted, while in
sheep raising it is renovated. Some say
there is no food for sheep in winter-but
farmers must keep food. In July they
should SOW little rye or turnips in their
corn ield-the rye would give them plen.
ty of food after the frost had killed the grass,
and the turnips could be fed after the ground
was covered with snow. Rains were the
worst thing for sheep--he dreaded long
rain-storm more than anything else, but
yet he would not like to have them out in
the snow. He knew one farmer who never
let his sheep out of the barn in winter, and
never lost sheep. They require change
of food. Wheat straw was very good, and
chaff, mixed with bran or shorts. 1t was
essential that they enter the winter IN good
order, and then to have the best feeding, for if
they got poor, and were fattened afterwards,
they would lose their wool. If they must
be fed poorly at any season, let it be in the
spring.
Mr.. Hunt, of Dodge, had been engaged
in wool growing, and believed it was avery
profitable occupation in this State. He
agreed with Judge Dayton in the necessity
of good feeding in the fall. He would not
let them eat too much of the frost-killed
grass-it would fill them up, while they
were growing poor. Their hay must be
sailed, or salt must be placed convenient for
them to lick-sheds must be provided to
shelter them, under which they must be fed;
by all means give them water in the winter,
but in the summer they would do without
it; if they get poor, they must be fed with
bran or oats. lie considered the Spanish
Merino to be the best breed, but some
preferred the French Merino, although it
did not have so much wool on the same
sized carcass. The Spanish also lived to
greater age-frequently ten, fifteen, and
even twenty years, while the old breeds did
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