The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-12-24
Wool Growing and sheep Management in

Wool Growing and Sheep Management 1,
p tsC}tS Iowa. . -
From an interesting article under thi
title, written By Hon. B. Grinnell, an.
published il the last Iowa Homestead
We take the following: s.uEs...
Each season has given mo new evi
dence that we, as farmers, were trans
crossing the most obvious principles OF
economy, by raising 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 val.
ne Of fifty cents, to our best market
The pork and cattle raiser, too, now sees
how much more in proportion to the vol.
ume of his staples, he pays for transpor-
tation than the wool grower. We have
the argument. Necessity has brought
many focks 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 focks, that new aud most substan.
tial impulse 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 favor
able. / judge that Of the importations,
one hundred thousand sheep have been
brought into the State poor.
Hay has been obtained at about double
its cost 10 common seasons; hence it is
not plenty. 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 . temptation to buy old or inirm
stock. Wool commanding from sixty to
seventy cents pound, has been temp.
tation to many to keep 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, ard chron.
ic croakers are predicting failures. Good
management will require an early CLASH
fcation Of tho flock, if large one
Lapbs 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 shelters will save feed if we have
cold winter; and in case of rain they
are indispensable to the health and com
fort Of the flock.
Feeding boxes will be found economi.
cal. 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 pro.
vision is only proper respect for an ami.
NAL with epicurian tastes.
Superficial calculation will lead to the
conclusion 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 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
"cash in hand;' so the mercenary father
deprived his boy Of school books, that he
might add calf to his herd; but the son,
with cursing, illustrated neglect; as the
''ides Of March, tell by the flock, and
enforce the ruinous lesson. There is
that withholdeth more than is meet, but
it tendeth to poverty"
Corn requires to be fed in small guam
titles at first. Many are greedy, and
others, for weeks, will eat none.
Brine, at least twice a week, put on
hay and straw, will lead to the consump
ton of the coarsest Of food, and contrib.
ute to the health of the flock If my
farmer friends would ask anything more
practical they must indite it.
You have every ground for good cheer
Sheep summered here were never in bet
ter 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 the rebels.