The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-23
From the Nuscatine Journal


Secretary-Dr. J. NJ. Shsffer.
Treasurer--Edwin Smith.
Chief Marshal-Downing.
The old directors were reelected.
They decided to hold the next State
Fair at Burlington. beginning Tuesday,
Setember 9th. The Illinois State Fail
being Monday. September 18th, it was
thought best TO have one week intervene
SO as to give time 10 take stock from that
Fair to ours, and for officers and men to
go home.
On Wednesday evening we bad a very
interesting discussion On Sheep. Wool is
OF so much Importance that think it will
be interesting TO not only Jour farmer
readers, but to every business man and
woman; yes, in the scarcity Of cotton,
make woolen delsincs, instead of calico
for woman's wear, and men should wear
a light woolen cloth and linen in Sumner,
instead OF cotton.
A gentleman from Madison county,
who had kept a large flock of sheep for a
few years past, stated that there had been
about 75, 900 brought into that county
the past season-that they had large flocks
before and they are doing well, and are
very successful. He says il is better for
the sheep, to bring them by railroad, but
cheaper 10 drive, and for the good Of the
sheep they should be driven very slow
six or eight miles dsy-eiviug them
time 10 feed on the way. Ii sheep are 10
bad condition in the fall, it Is almost i'm
possible to recruit them in the wiaer.-
Al sheep should BE- carefully kep, in good
order from time Of sheariug until fall. for
that Is the season tia, the wool sets for a
new crop; and il 10 very important to
have il on rich hide Tor large crop
next year.
He KEEP, over 100 sheep in one flock.
aud he found he had built his sheds too
broad and too low, that the flock we're
warmed up, their camp as warm as a
kitchen. lie would recommend narrow
er sheds, open 10 the south. nd Mr.
Sewers says, 50 they can be closed with
boards when cold, driving storm il COM
inc from the south and east.
/ FKEp.-Cofnslalks cut NJ at early ma
lturiiy. and half OF taen fed with the corn
not husked cd and hall with stalks husk-
lied. 10 this way each sheep wiiiconsume
about three bushels Of coma year, and
his Aaeep average .ous poaad. Vi washed
wool, nearly pound more than the same
sheep avenged III 0hio and the last
Sheep are very fond Of unland and fne
hov -, IL
ed, if cut before it is too ripe. Rye sown
!. in August il a most excellent pasture for
them IN tic fall and early spring, aud then
a crop of rye may be harvested from the
same crop. Ee
Spanish Merinos are the best breed Il
Is very important that the buck should be
Of pure blood and Of the very best Of ami
mails Mr. Sewers paid as high al $500
for such an animal Then cross them
with The good long wooded common ewes,
and the half bloods are the most pr9fia-
bic, larger aud more productive lambs.
Mr.. Sewers, of Oskaloosa, man who
has had considerable experience Tor some
years in sheep raising, says that when
| wool will sell at 25 cents per pound, il
is the most profitable product tina. we can
raise 10 Iowa. The price Of wool this
year is from so to II cents. Men whc
brought sheep out from Michigan year
ago last fall, costing them 81 per head
here, made q nett profit of sc per cent or
their investment, letting them out on theil
investment, letting out on tbe halves, AUD
the renter getting pay for keeping aDt
80 cents nett profit per head.
|. cannot urge too strongly upon the
FARMERS Of Museatine county the impor
tauce Of getting into stock of sheep, ane
out of stock Of dogs, yet taey may b.
both kept together. For remember this
we can always send wool east a. FIVE pc
cent freight, while it will cost from 50 t
100 on beef, pork and wheat. We ca,
compete better with wool in the Eeas,er
market than anything else.