The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-10-16
the estimate tie placed. on the lambs.

the estimate placed. on the lambs. sl;put'
Them: loweer than they generally sell. I
spealc5of Mcrinocs, instead of sheep gen.
orally, because l am sure Merinoes are
the sheep for our wants, being we'll adap-
ted TO oar climate, very hardy, do better
on poor land than any other sheep, and
yield at least one hundred per cert more
wool to the weight of the carcass than
any other, breed, and tie wool commands
at least fifty per cent more in price.
In mixed -husbandry at the North5 it is
thought to be good economy to keep one
sheep for each acre under cultivation, but
where wool is the sole crop, or the farm
is devoted entirely to sheep, there are
sometimes as many as five kept, owing to
tho pasturagc. Thcre they Craze valua-
bic land that would produce heavy grain
crops, while our old fields make the best
of Sheep pastures. But few years ago
we had nothing but broom -sedge on our
old fields; now they give grazing TO sheep
and cattle that is equal to the best Texas
summer grass, and much more dense
Nature is evidently doing much for us IN
this way. and it does seem to be mans
duty TO do his part, which heretofore he
has not done. We can summer sheep as
cheaply here as they can in Texas, and if
carefully pcnned at night, (Which should
always be done to avoid the destructive
cur, on land prepared for turnips, ! be.
lieve each sheep will 'renovate enough old
land to make his winter feed in turnips,
which, with very little hay. fodder or
-shuclss will keep them in good order all
winter. I usually prefer some grain or
clover lots to turn the ewes on after lamb.
ing, as it requires something OF the kind
to start u good supply of milk. If well
provided with food and shelter, prefer
the lambs to como in December and jan
uary; if short of food, however, / prefer
lambs in March, as grass will soon come
to your assistance
Last season sowed my oats The last of
August or the first of September, in my
cotton, and had fine grazing all winter,
taking off my sheep in the spring, and
never saw so good a crop Of oats on such
land. intend to try this again, instead
of rye.
/ believe that all the cultivated grasses
grown in America will do well here. ii we
only knew how to manage them; if so,
the expense of wintering sheep would be
materially lessencd, making ours, all
things considered, as good sheep coun-
try as there is in the United States, as
we suffer neither the cold winters of the
North and West, or the opposite extreme
of heat as they do in Texas besides the
awful NorLhers Of that State kill thou
sands annually. -
That sheep are the best helps to reno
vatc worn out land, is universally admit
ted, and that we need such helps to raise
grain crops, is we'll known. Then let
every farmer start a flock; it may be
small at first as we have much to learn,
but increase the number as we learn how
to manage them. If by these hints ]
shall find that one man has been induced
to try sheep raising, | shall feel that |
have done a good work. With my best
wishes for your success in giving us an.
agricultural paper, | am your obedicnt
servant, JAMES w. WATTS