Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-12-11
Wool Growing and sheep MAN.
aXemeHt I'm Iowa.

b&SOAxOAG AVW0
From an interesting article under this title,
written by Hon. B. Grinnell, and published
in the last Iona Homestead, we take the
following:
Each season has given me new evidence
that we, as farmers, were transgressing the
most obvious principles Of economy. by rails
ing fifty cents worth of wheat, which it would
cost fifty cents to take to the consumer, while
two cents would carry pound Of wool. of
the value of fifty cents, to our best market.
The pork and cattle raiser, too, now sees how
much more IN proportion to the volume OF
his staples, be pays for transportation than
the wool grower. We have the Argument
Necessity has brought many flocks to us, and
the young flock master who has been here as
an observer, carries back such news from this,
the promised land, and the future paradise OF
hocks, that new and most substantial i'm
pulse is given to our immigration.
Failures must be avoided if possible now.
These are some of the reasons why the years
results may not be favorable. Judge that of
the importations, sne hundred thousand sheep
have been brought into the State poor.
Hay has been obtained at about double Its
cost in common seasons; hence it is not plen'
ty. Grain, in many places, has gone up to
three times its usual value in market. What
corn there is, by reason of frost, is not what
it seems.
Sheep having been high, there has been a
temptation to buy old or infirm stock. Wool
commanding from sixty to seventy cents a
pound, has been temptation to many to keep
a larger flock than their feed and preparation
for the winter would justify. These facts
lead me to make few suggestions to my
brother sheep farmers.
Our occupation is, the present winter, to
be subjected to severe test, and CHROME
croakers are predicting failures. Good man.
agement will require an early classification OF
the flock, if large one. Lambs must be
separated from the older and stronger OF the
flock.
The early frost has made our native grass
worthless, and it will not do to wait for heavy
SHOWS before we begin to feed. Warm shell
ters will save feed if we have cold winter ;
and in case of rain they are indispensable to
the health and comfort of the flock.
Feeding boxes will be found economical
A box three and half feet high, and twelve
feet long, made Of common boards, with an
opening one foot from the ground, to pass the
head of the sheep through, will not cost over
two dollars-will give eating room for twenty
five sheep, and will, in an ordinary season,
save one ton Of hay, or more. This provision
is only proper respect for an animal with
epicurian tastes.
Superficial calculation will lead to the con-
clusion that it is better to sell the grain than
to feed it., while our wool growers in the East,
have demonstrated that corn can be at q profit,
if costing one dollar bushel, provided wool
is fifty cents pound, and the stock fed is
we'll bred.
1t may be pleasant to early count the leash
in hand :" so the mercenary father deprived
his boy Of school books, that he might add a
calf to his herd; but the son, with cursing,
illustrated neglect; as the sides Of March"
tell by the flock, and enforce the ruinous les
son. "There is that withholdeth more than
is meet, but it tendeth to poverty"
Corn requires to be fed in small quantities
at FIRST. Many are greedy, and others, for
weeks, will eat none.
Brine, at least twice week, put on hay and
straw, will lead to the consumption of the
coarsest of food. and contribute to the health
of the flock. If my farmer friends would
ask anything more practical they must indlte
it.
You have every ground for good cheer
Sheep summered here were never in better
condition than now. 1t is luxury to have
| good wool. The demand for it is Increasing
and is imperative. The reign of the Prince
of Wool in place of King Cotton, promises to
be long, pleasant, and beneficial to everybody
save to rebels.