The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-12-14
Wool GrowI.zi. Nevada.


In no branch Of industry is there likely to
be . greater revolution than in the raising Of
sheep on the great inland plains trarersed by
the Union and Central Pacific railroads. Up
to very late period. it has been supposed
that tho dense growth Of sagebrush which is
generally found between the base of the Rocky
mountains and the Sierra Nevada. was q
fatal objection to the profitable raising Of sheep
for the purposes of the wool. Experiments
and scientific Investigations have Taught diff
ferently, and it is now conceded that the dry,
gnvelly saSebrush plains are remarkably
adapted to raising the finest mutton and the
best character of wool. Sheep require an ele-
waited, arid and even mountainous district
DIR. Latham, in an article published in the
Omaha Herald, makes reference to the dis
tricts in South America, and on the other
continent. ION the great Pampas of South
America, which are high. diluvial plains COM
Paratively dry the whole year, and entirely so
ten months of the year. where they export lOO.-
OOO,OOOp pounds offine fiber which is eagerly tax
en- for Clothing fabrics, they have developed
the growth of the celebrated "Mestiza" wool.
the supply Of which is not equal to one TWEEN
tieth of the demand.
In the interior Of Africa, when the colonists
had found that the climate was too dry for
farming, their attention was turned 10 wool
growing. and from the scanty heritage grow
ing there. and from barren waste with a few
naked caffres. it has taken front rank with the
producing countries of the best wool.
The great arid interior of Asia is the favor
lite home of the sheep and goat. From the
condition of most of her people in the scale
of civilization. it is noted more for the enor-
nous quantity of the production than its fiue
quality.
variety Of food is requisite to "a healthy
and vigorous growth of wool. and in no coun-
try is there greater variety or more nutritious
grasses than in this. The one great cause saws
the same writer. of disease in sheep is long
continued rains. Hence. in Western Oregon,
great difficulty is met in raising sheep, and
they are rapidly being removed to the high
sagebrush plains lying between the Cascades
and Blue Mountains, in Western Oregon; and
in California, as is said of some portions of
the New England States, "the fleece gets wet.
and, remaining so several days, keeps the ami
NAL enveloped in a steam bath, producing
pustules, scab, letter and other cutaueous dis.
eases; everything and every place is soaked
and dripping with water during those long
storms, and the sheep are compelled to lie on
the wet ground and contract collie, scours and
stretches and other bowel diseases. Blu, here.
on our hard. porous and gravely soil, in a
bright, equable climate, with dry, brAcing
atmosphere, having an abundance Of nutri-
tious grasses and great variety of desirable
food the hocks will fluid every circumstance
contributing to their perfect growth and de-
velopment. This Is such country aud eli
mate as they naturally inhabit. Their consii-
tutions are fitted to its peculiaritirs, and will
produce here their highest possibilities. -
Thousands Of sheep have already been i'm.
ported into Eastern Nevada, with results high.
~ satisfactory. We mhy look for great ac.
tivity III this branch of stock raising another
year.