, 1864-07-11
Sheep Husbandry.

propose to offer few suggestions on
this eminently important branch OF rurat
economy, without any reference to the ex
istinS excitement on the subject. Every
great, and permanent national interest
should be contemplated irrespective oi any
artificial or transitory imitation. It Will
not, however, bc Inappropriate, and think
it may be useful, to present briefly some
preliminary views bearing upon sAeep hus-
bandry ia its present aspect.
kis obvious that no ordinary farmer
can invest adequate capital in the purchase
Of sheep Of rates which now govern, with
q purpose Of eabarking extensively in
wool.growing; but it is scarcely possible
that current prices should be long main-
tanned. On this subject it will be wise
and safe for our people to regard the ad-
menitionsof the past, and to restrain within
judicious limits the wild extravaganza which
prevails in estimating the value of choice
sheep. There is real value to this stock,
as veil as every other domestic animal,
based on positive results and tangible pro-
fits and utility, and every price beyond this
line is fictitious, imaginary and delusiye.
TIE fluctuations in the price OF sheep are
more frequent and on wider range than
10 any other description of stock: The
fact Is well established; but will not
pause to discuss the causes which produce
It. The events connected with sheep hus.
bandry during and Immediately succeeding
the war Of 1912 Illustrate the wildness
which these speculations may attain and
the peFils which attend them. Facts within
my own knowledge may impait useful
lessons to the sherp purchasers Of the
present day. My father, near the close Of
that war, ! recollect, sold one morning be-
fore breakfast fourteen eve lambs, just
taken from the mothers, for fourteen hun.
dFed dollars, and the purchaser accused
him Of illiberality for refusing to parrwith
more ct the same price. At about the
same time he repeatedly declined one thou.
sand dollars fof buck which he was happy
in few months after to sell for fifty: dol
lars. Is it not possible that the history Of
stock husbandry may in this department
repeat itself9 While travelling many years
ago In Northern Ohio, late in autumn,zI
found the farmers Strengthening their sheep,
preserving only the pelts, tallow and hams,
and feeding the remainder to swine With.
10 brief period the wool growers Of Ner
| ...s,",.- J,s.S ~.s' 49, e.sss' -
~ ...sH, WI .us,es saoi'liSi',s l,oeNs;
.tSs ..Ss X ~. 49, tss... sr.:.| - w ~. NY
80. go y , .y.'s sS.;ss y gs ssa., a. yeOuPy
tanned would now secure them small for
tunes. This policy is all mistaken. In
ss'i'e'', ny .,'oss ~ v,aY.os s'l'S y
ssntSse ~ .ny oIalen 2. s,oeN nnsoasuly
z :. ny ~ ss.s ~ y =
u ~ ..oou,.,Lne y PtospeLsy .y'ss
nlraas tnl rsrsys Y, Psosglse y sssy
q1 Nlsl .n,. ~ sasls \ ss..'ls.
ne oPeos'se o1uul..on " p.,oss 80,
n falely sflo l2t .ne pe,soe WIN y osS.'lery
means = euloat, "a .ne pus'isss.- Day y
2usse.e .-.es NV ~ " . ~ I.slse'
sesn ,e',s, " sslec'' W ysse e'''''s.s, y M
1nu sp'os w .uIn.,'s 2, .ne y nssl,
lsiooI,, sno vnly gnnes seyl CT.
cumstances q nave lass ueserloeo, sna. iI =
Beginner IN n ~co,gsoN.ng q sap prScsl0 e Y an an
en.lls .,osH y snssP Mn,en sa ~, sns ~
standard ne : aPt 70 establish. 70 :, spch @
persons NY aovlce nas unllos1n.y veen.
SeeA INC oPPortnplsy q pusclss.nS y. srss
Hplon 95e annuAliy tufneo on IRON y, l,ycls ~
q es.aplisneq repp'stlons a. . D,oqa anq
osner 9qallues ana ,of e4enPslos rom 1, u,s.
ease, Use suitable oqcS, enp, oy tls
Iapio increase o. snesPs you wli's = saor.
g.me et,a.p noe. 9naiinS IN eAcsi.ence
those lrom when l.,yas aeriyeui -ihls 10
suit VII 30 attained % comparatively " lri-
hing disbursements. ~ siss.
Ny own conclusions. formed ey song ex.
pelleuce anq eoseryaiion nave 1ecn that
under favorable circumstances sheep may
% hopt without los when wool only TO
turns tWepty.lTe cents the pound. IN this
ealenlatlon. 1 emorace en- estimate ~ tpe
!lee.e' mutton, ape ne teegi'qlty q we anr
spoN Al beyond ms pfice. Nnen sneep
are pprensseo q low rates, and range ~
districts adapted q their economical culinre.
= more Or less reinn9efesive.s ! then say
@nrmef'' 90 mol empare lnlsensnanufy
when sheep are e. eFofoi.ant prices wait
until 9 change occurs Neither precilPl-
lately abandon i while It Is enyeloped IN
atemPoIary cloud.
WI now Pf0cced to notice, with rapid
glance some ot The incidents and advan-
fnUno conU|rIo0 with the culture OF. sheen.