Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-01-22
TFor the Journal.1

State Fair for lS64-Sheep.
The Iowa State Agricultural Society met
at the State Capital, Jan. 18th, and reelected
most of its officers namely:
President-Hon. George G. Wright.
Vice President-Pster Melendy.
Secretary-Dr. J. M Shafer.
Treasurer-hdwin Smith,
Chief Marshal-Downing.
The old Directors were selected.
They decided to hold the next State Fair
at Burlington, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 9th.
The Illinois State Fair being Monday, Sept.
18th, it was thought best to have one week
intervene, so as to give time to take stock
from that Fair to ours, and for officers and
men to 60 home.
On Wednesday evening we had very in
teresting discussion on Sheep. Wool is of so
much Importance that think it will be inter-
esting to not only your farmer readers, but
to every business man and woman; yes, IN
the scarcity of cotton, make wooden delaines,
instead of calico for woman's wear, ard men
should wear light wooden cloth and linen
in summer, instead of cotton.
A gentleman from Madison county, who
had kept large flock of sheep for few
years past, stated that there had been about
$4,000 brought into that county the past sea.
son,-that they had large focks before and
they are doing WELL and are very succ assful.
BE says it is better for the sheep, to bring
ssthem by railroad, but cheaper to drive. and
for the good of the sheep they should be driv-
sen very slow-sx or eight miles day Civ
ing them time to feed on the way. II sheep
are in bad condition in fall, it is almost i'm
possible to recruit them in winter. All sheep
should be carefully kept in good order from
time of sheariug until fall, for that is the sea-
son that the wool sets for new crop; and it
is very important to have it on a rich hide
for large crop next year.
He kept over 700 sheep in one flock, and
he found he had built his sheds too broad
and too low, that the flock were warmed up,
their camp as warm as kitchen. He would
recommend narrower shed, open to the south.
with boards when cold, driving storm is
coming from the south and east.
FEED.-Corn stalks cut up at early matu-
rity, snd half Of them fed with the corn not
husked off and half with the stalks husked.
In this way each sheep will consume about
three bushels of corn year, and his sheep
average four pounds of washed wool, nearly
a pound more than the same sheep averaged
in Ohio and the East. Sheep are very fond
of upland and fine prailie hay, also clover
and timothy mixed. if cut before it is too ripe.
Rye sown in August is most excellent pas
ture for them in the fall and early spring, and
then crop Of rye may be harvested from
the same crop.
Spanish Merinoes are the best breed. 1t
Is very important that the buck should be of
pure blood and of the very best of animals.
Mr.. Sewers paid as nigh as $500 for such an
animal. Then cross them with the good long
wooded common ewes, and the half hoods
are the most profitable, larger and more pro-
ductive Of lambs. q.
Mr.. Sewers, of Oskaloosa, a man who has
had considerable experience for some years
in sheep raising, says that when WOO will
sell a: % cents per pound, it is the most
The price of wool this year is from 60 to II
cents. Men who brought sheep out from
Michigan year ago LAST fall, costing hem
s. per head here, made nett profit of 60
per cent on their investment letting them
out on the halves, and the renter getting pay
for keeping and 30 cents nett profit per head.
cannot urge too strongly upon the farmers
of Muscatine county the Importance of get
ing into stock Of sheep, and out of stock
of dogs, yet they may be both kept together.
For remember this, we can always send wool
east at per cent. freight, while it will cost
from so to 100 on beef, pork and wheat. We
can compete better with wool in the Eastern
market than anything else.
SuEL Foster.