The hydraulic press., 1860-04-07

THE SHEEP BUsINEss.-On the subject of
the adaptibility of the mountain regions to
sheep raising, concerning which we have
had much to say, the San Andreas Lndspen-
dent has the following practical article:
From information which we have received
through parties engaged in sheep-raising in
this county, we have concluded that there is
no more safe or more remunerative invest
ment for small amount of capital-say
So, ,0Go to $4,0O0-than in the breeding of
sheep. On several occasions we have here
tofore alluded to this matter, with view Of
inducing active young men having small
capital at command, and in search of em-
ployment for it, to engage in the business.
Some such have taken the hint and acted
upon the suggestion. They have done we'll.
Theif ewes have yielded an increase of 100
per cent. per annum, on the original stock.
1t has cost them a mere trifie to sustain
their flocks; whilst the losses from disease,
and in lambing time have been quite incoh-
siderable. An increase {nett) Of ninety per
cent. per annum may be confidently counted
on To attend flock of, say, 800 sheep,
worth $4,000, but one man and two trained
shepherd dogs are required, except in the
lambing season, when a couple OF extra
hands may be required for single month.
A shepherd can be readily hired at $40 to
$50 per month and found This will amount
to $500 or 5000 per year; to which add $l0O
more for extra help in lahnbihg time, with
$40 for a mule or horse for the shepherd to
ride, and we have total cost of
For Stock of Sheep $4,000
Wages of Shepherd 500
Extra help in lambing season. 100
Price of mule or horse 10
To which add, for salt 80
Total $4,700
This is the purchase money and cost of
keeping 800 scrub sheep for one year. The
increase of 800 ewes, in this climate, will
be at least 500 lambs, which at the age of
ten to twelve months will readily bring SIS
per head in our home markets, anywhere in
the mountain districts. If they have been
well herded and kept on fresh pasture, they
will average SO pounds; and SO the butcher,
at 20 cents per pound, (Which is the price
of good mutton), will make IS clear profit
on each sheep slaughtered. If fne-wooled
sheep, the feeces will be worth an average
of 81. Now, it will be seen that the busi-
ness is remuneratiYe, if the above estimates
are correct. Let us sum up the annual pro-
fits:
Eight hundred yearlingsIat SIS per
head $4,000
Sixteen hundred fleeces at, say, so
cents each, clear of expenses 800
Total $4,000
So it appears that, without allowing for
contingent losses. the profits of this business
are more than 100 per cent. per annum.-
This is doing admirably, even throwing in
the exclusive time and attention of the prin-
cipal.
Of course, like every other business, this
will require to be closely attended to, and
that in person, to be profitable.
There are millions of acres of land in
these mountains, from the foothills to the
snow-belt exactly adapted to the grazing of
sheep, and no other agricultural purposes
whatever The climate, also, is adapted to
the delicate organization Of this animal and
here the grazing is free and boundless. We
hope, then, soon to see focks and herds ION
thousand hills" The business will and
must pay if closely attended to.