Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-09-16
SOuthdOMn Sheen.

That East Tennessee is admirably
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 beyondques-
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 judicious 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 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
whereon 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 erceLLeloce 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 will be, content
with small fiocks 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 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. 1t 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 fiocks 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 in earnest to realize
the immense profits in store for them.