Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-11-18
Wool Growing IN Iowa.

Wool Growing IN Iowa.
We find an excellent practical es-
say on Wool Growing in Iowa, in
the report of the State Agricultural
Society for 1869, by Thomas McGif-
fin, Esq, of Fairfield, Iowa, an ex-
perienccd wool grower, both in this
State and in Pennsylvania. AS every
department of wool growing is in
cluded in this essay we shall extract
from it as required those parts only
which are applicable to the sea-
son when they may be published.
For the present we only publish the
following:
"In every pursuit Of life, we
should take into consideration the
items and points that make up the
beginnings; should look well to To-
cation, selection of stock, and in
short, all the inducements, advan-
tares, and pleasures. also, that are
the body and soul Of the venture.
These make the 'stock in trade,
and, made carefully, will, if pressed
on to success, make the man and
money. No man can have success
anywhere, without pressing on in
spite of mistakes and losses, so in
timately wound up together in all
occupations. These are the general
principles governing all nature and
all art, and that person who neg}ects
his reckoning on land, is no wiser
than the sailor who neglects his on
the wide sea; shipwreck and ruin
are for the first as well as for the
last. None should grumble or find
fault; because all this is the wise
ordering of the great Creator, who
gives us our daily food, upon con-
,iition that the sweat of the brow
only shall bring forth fruits Of the
earth
And in no calling can these things
he seen and felt more wildly and
surely than in the sheep fold or
sheep walk. Any error in the loca
ton of either will as surely be fol
lowed by loss Us that there is error.
All cfIoI III SclcCtllS VIC MIN VI |
sheep bears its fruits in the lambs
and wool, through many generations
the lambs msuited to the wants
of purchasers of sheep and the wool
unsatisfactory also to the manufac-
ttlrcr, because unsuited to the wants
of his establishment and trade.
And right here, at the very thrcsh-
old, is one matter that wool growers
and factory-men should know, and
knowing should improve, a mutual
good will toward each other is alb
solutcly needed and must be given
to have all the parties feel safe and
agreeable in companionship and in
business. In dealing with this i'm
portant subject, let us begin at the
LOCALITY OF THE FARM. 1t is
very desirable that this should be
on naturally dry land, or, if on flat
land, it must be thoroughly drained,
with as little delay as possible, after
Tor rather betore) the stock is OBJ
tanned; for if delayed until the wet
seasons come, as come they will,
diseases of the feet, skin and body
will be produced. These, if called
durable at the start, soon become
incurable, and are attended often
with more damage to flock and
owners health, and in work, trouble
and expense Of cure than would |
have been the cost of complete drain
age. And besides these calamities |
to the immediate owner, by contact
they may infect whole neighbor-
hoods with contagious diseases, thus
producing untold losses, upon inno-
cent parties, otherwise well located.
Right thinking men should consider
well the interests and danger CT
their neighbors' fiocks. On every
sheep farm, there should be some
tame meadow and also tame grass
to supply food when the wild is de-
ticient OF frosted, and if at all pos
sibly, be there before the land is
FULLY stocked. Sheep love the run
ming brook. In great number of
S.he counties Of this State they glad
den the eye. If not obtainable,
provide wells or cisterns full, for all |
demand, and then know it is given
them to drink. Shade is beneficial
and soon found out if within reach.
The shady groves with leaves
dancing in the wind are melodious
in the shepherd song Of the olden
time, and will be in request whilst
tired nature seeks rcpose' or fierce
burning Sol pierces the sky, the air
and the earth, with his fierce heat
and brilliant rays. Therefore, il no
shade is near and convenient, plant |
such trees as make foliage quick
and suitable, where they will be
useful and ornamental, in belts and |
groves, TINS giving as well rs re-
ceiving new joys and beauties. In
the meantime, for comfort and shell
ter, let the flock have some temper
AIRY affair of straw, prairie hay or
boards to run under. The dry roll |
ing prairies of Iowa, 50 beautiful to
the beholder, in their natural ap-
pearance, are as well adapted to this
husbandry as any portion Of Gods
earth, dotted all over, as they soon
will be with flocks and herds. No
State or country can or will draw
out, more often the praise Of the
avcler. and there will be more
longing then, than now, to enter in
and Ell Joy and be made comfortable"
The st. Louis Jonpto/ Of Igri-
c"lt"re does not accept the argu-
ments that pork will decline. 1t