Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-09-20
SOuthdOwn Sheen.


adapted by soil and climate to the success
full growth of sheep scarcely admits a
doubt. That this natural fitness will, in
time, be recognized by every farmer in
East Tennessee is also almost beyond uues-
| ton. This recognition is sure to follow
the spreading of the facts that no branch
of stock-breeding offers earlier or larger
profits none requires so little capital to
begin with and none involves so little
risk. These facts it is our desire to spread
abroad and make familiar to every farmer
in East Tennessee. In iudicious hands
thousands of acres in East Tennessee now
lying idle and unsless, might be made to
yield profit equal to the very best river
bottom lands. But to secure such results,
careful judgment must be exercised, along
with unwearying patience, No great
source OF wealth may be developed in one
| year. No large industry may be establish
| ed in few years, even. Time and labor
are necessary in all great enterprises, but
| in no branch of farming will well directed
| labor begin to pay in so short a time as in
! herding sheep. But, in order to succeed
| at the outset, it is needful that the farmer
| should begin with the best. He must
profit by the labOrs of others, take advan-
tage of their improvements, and go ahead.
Of the many excellent breeds claiming
the attention of the farmer, no one is best
| adapted to all climates and soils. Each
breed has its favorite soil and climate
| wherein and wherein it attains its highest
| excellence. Judging from analogy and
| reasoning from facts, it may be safely said
| that the East Tennessee farmer wants
either the Merino or the SOuthdown. The
| Merino, If he is to keep large flock; the
| Southdown, if his flock is to be small.
| The Merino is par crceHcnce the fine-wool
| sheep; the SOuthdown is beyond compar-
ison the mutton sheep. Both are alike
hardy and capable of doing well on short
pastures, and for these two paramount
| reasons, they are named as suited to the
East Tennessee farmers.
| At present, and for some years, perhaps.
the Southdown possesses the strongest
claims on the attention, of the majority of
| East Tennessee farmers, for the reason
that most of them are, and win be, content
with small flocks and will find it more
profitable TO keep such sheep as can be sent
TO market at almost anytime, while it
yields good share of fair wool, either for
house use or for SALE Now, for the major
| ity of farmers it would be unwise, if it
were practicable to attempt to establish
| fiocks of pure Southdowns to begin with.
1t is only the fore-handed farmer, with
capital to spare, who can do this. Him it
will pay. But the majority of farmers
must for a while be content to improve
the common sheep by using thoroughbred
rams, and in this way grade up theirs
This is the practice in England, and all
other countries where sheep are extensive
ly bred for mutton. II is astonishing how
rapidly the common sheep of the country
may be improved if only pure-bred bucks
are used. Fortunately for those who may
desire to enter upon this improve
ment, several gentlemen have i'm
ported small hOcks Of highly formed,
purely bred SOuthdOwnS. In Short time
from these flocks pure bred rams will. we
trust, be scattered throughout the country.
The farmers who get the first of these fine
bucks into their flOcks will get the first
profits from the increasing demand for
both wool and mutton. Nature has fur
nished all the needful requisites of climate,
soil and location, and it needs only that
the farmers take hold i'm earnest to realize
the immense profits in store for them.
Coon STORY or general SHERMAN
Dining one day, in 1864, at Memphis, with
General Veitch and General Chetlain,
army stories were in order whereupOn
thus spake General Sherman "While at
Bowling Green the rebel women bothered
US to DEATH It was always the same old
complaint The soldiers have MIXED our
cows, or stolen our chickens or busted into
the smoke-hOuse' At Chattanooga we
were bored to death with these women,
One morning they besieged my headquar-
ters, when, raising myself to my most SOL
emn posture, / said to the foremost wo-
man, Madam, the integrity of the repub-
lie and the solidity of the Constitution
mus be maintained. If ii takes cceTy chick
CT I9 an 1ennossee''-EDIToR's DRAWER, in
Hd'Ter's magazine for October.