The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1867-01-16
Wool Growing in the West.


1t is not generally known to persons res
ident in the states how great is the exten
of those immense plains which lie west o
the line where corn can be raised, and cas-
of the Rocky Mountains. These plain.
extend from the rivers of Texas, on tho
south, to the British possessions, dis.
tance of eight hundred miles; and from
the frontiers Of Missouri and Arkansas tc
the mountains, six hundred miles, embrac.
es about 4SO,OO square miles. In all this
vast tract Of land agriculture can be car.
ried on only by irrigation; yet the whole
is covered with the most nutritious grass,
and othervegetation adapted to its arid con-
dition. Among the mountains, and be-
tween them and the Pacific coast, is near
ly or quite as great an extent, making in
the. whole as much as 9OO, 900 square miles,
fitted only for pasturage of sheep and cat
tie.
The experiments of the Mexicans du-
ring the last $50 years has proved conclu-
sively that all south of the 5Sth parallel is
well adapted to the raising Of sheep, and
that they can gather their food from the
pastures all the year; thus saving the ex-
pense Of cutting hay, or even feeding it
out.
The climate is so arid. and the country
so open and exposed to the free passage Of
the winds, that it is difficult to conceive of
focks SO large that they will breed disease.
The only question is how many sheep can
be safely placed under the care of given
number Of shepherds, and not interfere
with their ability to feed; and 10000 has
not been found an inconvenient number.
Such a number only requires some six or
eight persons, with as many dogs and
jackasses for packing the things needed
by the herders. To flock of sheep is
generally added from 20 to 100 goats.-
These last afford milk for the herders and
dogs; and the flesh Of the kids gives them
meat.
The Mexican focks arc in the main COM
posed of ewes Such are never killed or
sold from the flock. And experience has
shown that it is safe to calculate that a
flock of 900 ewes will rear 1000 lambs
every year. In this calculation no deduc-
ton is to be made for yearlings. Taking
these experiments Us data for calculation.
the vast proilt which must attend sheep
growing on the plains must be apparent.
Suppose flock of 10000 ewes, and 200
rams; requiring the care of 5 hands, 3 of
them may be boys; 5000 each will pay
and board them for one year. Six asses
o.cb M or siSO cp % mh;sh T fo nSr ya con, - SoI 81,
lowed, amounting to $50. Fifty goats at
- |, totol v annm"i % am,'er % of s1 ~ oan nes Tha a
,oma MO-, from ] .ha shaa'; % ,st ~ donand 90 n,,,oh
III H. III ' e sp shee naS' s u.pu ~ mu. ai
.h..;. =" ~ a a;G.,f. '. H .i" Iua VI ,S "oo,
,a'.s;n. ~ IN non ~ I.'Ls IA """s. AZ. - es
- onn Ia 80 o,"oo "a l,'' n:s .n. n..Ses S y.
III. ToL;p ~ ;p, w Ill nj oa:ea "no aoa.s" "os
~, | shaan af .Io Mar;oon "a o .heso
"oo'9u W. c. '"'p u ''' .A'A''a'' """ ''''S'
sNo 'oi
% S aoo deesea M at % ct. 9oto
20 kids, at so
ass colts eo
Total. s22,1 1870
Deduct expenses,....:. 2o!o
leaves ~, p''"'''''.'''' -0'Aio
A pretty fa'r income Tor an outlay OF
s2u,2sO, Or a little over cent per cent.
hgures VIII De greatly increased, the
peter xmas OF sheep are kept. Inc small
spanish Mer'nos are the best, all things
considered. Such sheep might cost, say
20, and the other expenses would remain
the same, making the outlay sol 800; and
the income at " each fleece, and lambs ut
The pasturage costs nothing, as the
hooks feed on lands which will never be
bought at any price which the government
is likely to ask. Such a productive busi-
ness can hardly lie idle; and as soon IA it
is occupied 1T can more than compete with
Ioreign grown wools. These plains are
more extensive than the pampas of South
or the prairies of Australia;