Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-04-10

the roots are burned and destroyed, and
all that is left is the seed to spring forth
another year. There is much nutriment
in the grass while standing for three
months after it ceases to grew, though for
two months, while growing, cattle and
sheep have become like grain fed, fat, and
on the dry grass they hold their flesh, so
that until the first Of August they are 1T
for the butcher and table, and from the
first Of November they become reduced ex-
ceedingly low in flesh. FROM November
to the first of January they have nothing
to do but struggle with hunger and starva-
ton. During these three months twenty
per cent of stock is lost. This statement
is for the usual seasons, and is derived
from old settlers.
may be allowed to state what l have
seen during my journey here. Hundreds,
if not thousands, of cattle, bave seen
floating down the Sacramento River, while
passing them huddled together on some
dry hill, have seen them, ten at one time,
fall and expire. 1t is said they died from
being chilled 10 death. am free to ad-
NIT that the cold rains are destructive TO
cattle. l know, though, they would stand
any weather l have seen, provided they
were not previously starved. The few cat
tie which looked as though they might
live, looked harder than any stock ever
before witnessed in my travels. Over the
bodies of many were putrid running sores.
Many times | have attempted 10 eat the
meat, on the table, but could not, and have
not, to any extent, since leaving San Fran
cisco, where l had at the International
Hotel, the best of beef and mutton. Never
have I been so sick of any sight in the
stock line as in seeing the cattle of Cal
ifornia, dragging themselves around. Tt
is cruel From what have seen l may
conclude they must have fallen in vast
numbers before the freezing blasts and
storms, against which no sheltering is pro-
vided.
1 have in former letters said all 1 dared
to, though not all the truth, of the deprav-
ity of Californiaps. l see in this picture
before me as welsas all other branches,
that men will degrade themselves in not
providing shelter and food for their stock;
l see, too, that men have the impression
that all which is required is to procure tho
largest number possible, and that necessa-
ry food grows spontaneously. This is not
true No stock can be taken through the
winter with safety, short of three months
feeding, in any part Of this State. Sheep
north of Sanfrancisco will require food for
four months, if healthy wool or good NUT
ton is desirable.
Travelling here satisfies one that ''it is
not all gold that glitters," and that eds
tance lends enchantment to the view
1t has been claimed for this State that it
must far excel Australia, as wool grow
ing country. 1t shows what is true, that
many become infatuated with new things.
Western Texas is far in advance of Cali
fornia as a wool growing State. Either
are TOO much subject to coast storms to al
low sheep to range with safety, without
shelter. Wool growing, to prove success
ful in California, must be conducted on
another system than the present. They
must provide shelter during the cold storms
and prepare food for winter months. As
California will not be likely to do this, we
may safely conclude that the large quauti-
ties of wool, which were expected from
this Western Coast, will not be produced.
Sheep growing has been prosecuted, thus
far with reference TO mutton excusively.-
Few fine wool sheep are scattered through
he State. Many crosses have been made
with the old Mexican or Spanish sheep
Stock growers would derive great advan-
tage if they were to pay more attention
10 wool growing. Mutton sheep are now
cheaper than in the States, and farmers
are discouraged with the small returns
they are receiving. This remark may ap-
ply with equal force to every description
of stock growing; with the exception of
the best class of road horses, W hich still
bring large price. The number of
sheep in this State is nearly 100000,
producing 1000. 900 pounds of unwasheG
wool. The fieeces are very light when
washed. Like cattle, sheep do well on
he Mountain or Bunch Grass, while it is
lender or green: but it will require large
,xteut of territory TO pasture 1000 sheep,
Is they destroy it so,effectually that it pre-
'ents the grass frem taking seed for an
,lher year, leaving the mountains unpro-
luctive. This will form one of the great
drawbacks of wool growing; in addition
o which, the climate is changeable. The
ummer months are warm, producing light
leeces. During the winter, rain storms
ire prevalent; although the weather is ex-
remedy warm on the foot hills aud valleys,
compared to that on the high mountains)
heep become chilled, diseased, and expire,
long the Coast Range, with the atteation
bev now receive. S. n. G.
Singular Optical Illusions.