Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-06-21
FARmERa. COLU mN.



sheep WnsbanaFy in she sonths-The Ran
DAN Grass.
The following articla was published in the Patent
Office Report for 1857, and was written by Mr..
GEoRGE e. PArTERs0S, Of RogersVile. Tenn. What
this gentleman says ID relation to the value Of the
RandGg Grassr asa forage plant, is Of interest to
all sheep breeders.
The opinion which has heretofore generally pre-
vailed that the northern portions Of the United
States are better adapted TO the purpose of sheep
farming than the southern, is gradually being re-
moved By successful experiments. showing not only
that this impression is founded in error but estab
lshing cOnclusvely converse Of the proposition;
that is that in all the essentials for profitable sheep
farming large portion Of the Southern states pos
sesses advantages incomparably Superior 20 those
presented by territory further north.
Beginning at OF near point on the 39th degree Of
north latitude $50 miles from the Atlantic coast, and
proceeding in a southwestward direction, as far
down as the 34th degree, we find an expanse Of
country embracing about $50 600 square miles, the
geological and Genealogical characteristics Of
which give to it advantages for sheep husbandry
equaed in any other portion Of the United States,
of the same extent
This area Of, say 600 miles in length by 500 in
width, includes large portions OF virgins ana ZEN
nessee. with considerable parts Of Kentucky North
| Carolina Georgia, and Alabama, and small por-
/ ton of SOuth Carolina and Mississippi
The natural confguraton Of this vast region is
not the least of the many desirable advantages 1t
presents It Is situated many hundred feet above
! tide-water famed BY the purest atmosphere, and
/ SUPPLIED with innumerable salubrious streams.
/ Having high and dry range, so conducive to the
healthfulness of sheep, and presenting succession
/ Of mountain and valley, 1t affords the most ample
defence against the heat Of summer, well as the
Il bleak winds OF winter. Artificial protection. inds-
pensable at the North yet aptto produce disease,
is thus rendered unnecessary in this more favored
situation
These valleys, or mountain gorges, are the most
prolific in variety of heritage, suitable for sheep,
and during winter they afford supply of pasturage
/ so abundant that very little additional food is re-
quired. Especially is this the case when portion
| of the range is reserved for the winter season,
which is the proper course. Hence the sheep have
1 access to a continuous supply Of green food, by
which the secretOry organs retained in full
tion and an uninterrupted growth of wool IS pro
| NOTED while cases of constipation, frequently IA
tai ct the North by reason of sudden changes from
green to dry food, are unknown here there being
/ scarcely day in the year in which sheep cannot
find sufficient green food to keep their digestive Or
gans in a healthy condition.
Many Of the more elevated portions of this re-
ion are so naturally disposed grass that it is only
| necessary to clear out the undergFOwth-which can
be done at an expense Of about 50 per acre
when the Indigenous grasses such as timothy, blue
grass whiteclOYer, DC, will Immediately spring up
and take possession of the land. There are few
ranges Of any extent that do not furnish ample
quantities Of arabic land for all the purposes of the
sheep-farmer; and they frequently include a fair
/ proportion of excellent meadow land. The soil in
tins region is generally good and it is by means
uncommon TO find it fertile to the tops of the
mountains aud although there are to be found
considerable bodies Of thin soil. yet even these are
more disposed to the pre- luction of grass than
lands of better quality further south.
This thin soil is generally of loose texture and
therefore liable to be washed off by rains, unless
appropriated to grass. The common sedge is the
kind usually found upon it. When this Is burned off
| in early spring. a luXurlant range IS afforded t0I
sheep during the summer. 1t is not advisable pre-
cipitatey to substitute the cultivated grasses this
land, since it is not capable ofgrowng them success
fully. By burning of the dry and decaying growth
of the previous year, when its accumulation inter
feres with a succeeding growth and close depastur
ing for few years, the sedge will gradually give
way to the more valuable grasses 1t is well known
to all sheep farmers that, when lands are freely
pastured by sheep, their capacity for producing
grass much assisted, by close grazing the more
useless grasses brlars &C. are subdued. and the de
sirabe descriptions allowed to strengthen their hold
and this together with the trampng ofthe land anC
the droppings Of the sheep, induces a more denst
sWard.
The Randall Grass said to have been diseov
cred in OF the western counties of Virginia
promises to be the most valuable for sheep grazing
in the regions spoken Of From the many expert
ments resulting from the distribution Of the seeds
this grass through much of Virginia and Tennessee
seems 10 nave met Win universal favor. In cnar
acter and growth itelOsey resembles orchard grass
but is more tenacious of life, hourishing under thu
most unfavOrable treatment, and resisting the ntru
sion of sedge and other inferior grasses t has NOR
profuse foliage than the Orchard-gras and NOR
slender and soft stem it will retain its green colo
during the severest weather of winter, and exhibi
an earlier growth in the spring than other grasse
known in this region.
A comparative statement of the expense of main
tanning sheep at the North and in this Southern
31,o 1,,T r-of4 IokFa
and materially assist US in forming correct conclu
sions. If we examine the various communication
on this subject contained in the Agricultural Report
of the Patent Office. shall find the average ex
pense of wintering sheep at the North to be abou
rs per head while in the region herein treated o
it does not exceed 25 cents or One-fifth the allow
amount; and in most winters, when the snow doe
not lie more than day or two at time, the cost o
wintering is hardly worth computing. This differ
ence in the expense of maintaining flock is consid
eraby widened when we contrast the value Ofland
in the respective districts. Those at the North, WI
may safely place at average price of $50 PEI
acre, while in the Southern region any quantity o
lands suitable for sheep-walks can be purchased a
an average of ST. and many large tracts at half tina
price, or even less; thus afOrding decided advan
tages to persons of small capital.
That the climate of the Northern States is NOR
favorable to the growth of fine wool than the re
giOn to which refer, repeated experiments dis
proving. Although 1t Is admitted law of Nature
that the covering Of animal will adapt itself in
great degree to the climate in which it abides, We
this does not prove that fine wool cannot be grown
in a warm climate any more than that fine furs OF
fine feathers cannot be found there: for many ami
mails bearing the finest quality of furs, inhabit the
most southern borders Of our country, such as the
beaver, otter, muskrat, and flying squirrel and may
be classed among the finest furproducing animals
they are all found IN Texas, as well as in the
Canadas.
Tae Merino sheep has been bred for ages as fal
South as the 36th degree of North latitude in Asia
and we are informed by eminent writers on the sub
ject that there is no perceptabe difference in the
fneness of their fleece from that of the focks Of
| Europe and we have the testimony of the head Of
the great Lowell Manufacturing Company, who has
purchased extensively from all parts of the United
States that wherever there are good shepherds
there is sure to be found good wool" The veriable
samples of wool grown by en- eminent sheep-farmeI
| of Tennessee. (ldr COckrill) are said to have ex
ceeded in fneness those selected by agent of our
government from the best fOcks of Europe and this
gentleman attributes its superior quality to the eli
mate of that region, although it was grown nearly
two degrees south Of the scope of country of which
| | am treating and not in the true grass region.
| Whether Mr.. COckrill is correct or not in his opn-
ion the fact is nconrOvertibe that the climate has
worked no deterioration in the quality of the wool
/ in the many years he has given wool-growlng his
attention. But whatever difference of opinion may
exist on this subject it is established beyond doubt
| that the wool grown in a warm climate has a
! longer and softer fibre than that produced in the
colder countries although there may be no differ
ence in the neness of either and the manufacturer
! will give a decided preference to the longer and
| softer staple.
Since the introduction of the Saxon sheep at the
! North it is found that they not capable Of re-
sistng the severity of that climate, and the breed
| in Of them is abandoned as improbable but it is
reasonable to conclude that this most valuable vari
ETY. of ne-wOOled sheep, before long, viii find it's
fixed place of habitatiOn in the more cOngenial eli
mate of the South.
Turning Under Grass.
The Yankee farmers great people, in their
MaH great In making eNnerrnents nnnn their farms