Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-10-25
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE
Wool Growing.
NO. NLII.

We have no reluctance in avering that
there are but few sections on this CONT
nent superior to East Tennessee as a WOOL
growing region. Nor are we alone in this
opinion. An intelligent manufacturer Of
wooden goods, of New York, takes the
same view after travelling extensively over
many of the States expressly for the pur-
pose of investigating this matter He is
of the opinion that there is no section bet
ter adapted to this business than that belt
of country stretching from Gordonsville,
Virginia, to Chattanooga, Tennessee. He
says "The land is rolling, well fenced,
well watered, good climate, and ranging in
price from s. to S25 per acre, with good
Improvement
There are several considerations why
East Tennessee is so admirably adapted to
wool growing, which we will now proceed
to unfold. In the first place, it costs but
trihe to rear and take care of sheep. Let
us begin with their pasturage. There is
enough of this to support millions of sheep
with nominal cost. We have two ex-
tensive ranges of mountains, the Cumber-
land, on the northern boundary of the
State, and the Smoky Mountains, on the
southern boundary. In addition to these
there are intervening ridges, equally as
valuable for grazing purposes. These
mountains and ridges throughout the sum-
mer and fall seasons are covered with
grasses and species of weed which
all sorts of stock eat with avidity.
Sheep may be driven to these ranges as
early as the first of April, or the latter
part of March. Here they will remain
until the first of November, during which
time they will get in fine order. They not
only revelin luxurient grasses, but they en-
Joy cool and healthful breeze which is
always prevalentin the mountains. They
find an abundance Of clear water, and ev-
erything around them conspires to prolong
their lives and to maintain and perpetuate
vigorous constitution. The only ex'
pense attending the matter is, the employ
ment of careful hand to watch over them
and to salt them. There are neither
wolves nor dogs to destroy them. One
man could readily manage from three tC
five hundred.
How different are our advantages in this
respect, from Ohio or any of the Eastern
States There extensive cleared land.
must be brought into requisition, and the
very best lands at that, for the purpose o
grazing them. This makes the business
expensive, for these same lands have to be-
put into grass, while they are worth, fo
grain and other purposes, far more thar
for sheep husbandry, In East Tennesse'
our farming lands are not interrupted
We go to the mountains where we cal
Craze almost for nothing.
But how is it in the winter season
Are the winters hard on sheep? W.
answer emphatically, no. Our winter
are short and exceedingly mild. Gu
severest months are December and Jan
uary; and these, compared will
the same months, farther North, are mild
One special feature of our winter seasons
is, that we have no such piercing wind
as are known to prevail throughout al
that region north of the Ohio river. Al
who are acquainted with the delicate con
situations of sheep are aware that sucl
winds are death to these animals. The.
undermine their health, give them tn
"rot" and soon kill them. We have know
them, on this genial climate, to remain
outdoors all winter without any covering
and fed on a small quantity ofshelled cor
or beans and fodder. Indeed, it is aston
ishing how very little food of any sort the.
consume.
1t will, therefore, be seen from thes
facts at what small cost sheep may be ia
ken care of in East Tennessee, and hoy
large the profits in the production of wool
We boldly assert that there is no bushes
that would pay better according to tn
amount of capital invested. Let us tax
an example. Mr.. A. buys, we will suppose
800 sheep. The account stands thus
DIR.
Cost......... ........................~$1200,0
Cost of one hand to care for
them So permonth..,.... 144,0O
Sailing and incidental eX-
penses......,.. .,...... ....... 1000 Sl,364.Ot