The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-03-22

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In rebuilding the prosperity Of our
Southern States there Is no branch of
industry calc1latedto contribute more
certainly than sheep husbandry on a
small scale. We do not wish to be I'M
derstood as advocating sheep raising
exclusively, but we do insist on this
industry forming a link in that chain
OF diversified farming, which is the
basis of an independent and lasting
prosperity. WNshave uniformly and
theoretically thrown the whole weight
of our influence, since the war, against
the almost exclusive cotton culture
which has well nigh rbankrupted our
sectich;I but We have never yet advised
the Abandonment of cotton. On the
contrary, we have constantly. urged
the farmer to make it the main feature
of his market crop, being careful to
diversity his energies to the extent of
making his farm self-sustaining. In
this diversity sheepshould have a prom
inent. place. No farmer throughout
the cotton region should be without
his flock of ten, twenty or fifty head,
according to size and location Of farm.
| All experienced farmers win know
that simply purchasing the hocks and
driving them home, without further at
tentiof, will result in failure and loss.
The effort will be profitable or not &C
cording to. the care and intelligence
bestowed upon it, and those who are
not prepared or disposed to bestow
these win best Let it alone.
The Intelligent farmer will first de-
termine the number of sheep he is pre-
pared to care fol-. ~ IL he has pastur.
agesfor only twenty he will not 20 be.
yond that number. This questionset.
tied, he viii next direct his inquiries
to the breed best adapted to his local
ity and the wants of his market. If hi
is SO situated that the fleece forms the
main item of profit, he will select tina
breed the wooliof which is most valua
Bile. If on the OF her hand, his marke
offers greater profits for mutton thai
wool, then. he will select the breed
most productive Of mutton. In eithel
case economy will suggest that he buy
the common native ewes of the coun,
try which are cheap, and bring them ~
to the breed desired by carefully select
ing and purchasing such bucks as vii
Head to the end in view. Those WIT
have no experience will be astonishei
at the rapid progress the proper car,
Twill make in transforming flock o
common ewes into beautiful Merinos
or Cotswolds, or Southdowns, orwhat
ever breed may be desired. Seven
Fights constitutes what is termed .
Thoroughbred and a. little calcula
ton will show how short time is re
quired to bring sheep to that point o
purity. p l-l,,-.s ! RI .s.r-lE .rI ,sa
Now as to the profits. The increas,
of sheep, with proper care, is safel,
estimated at seventy five per cent. pc,
annum. The fleece cannot be est
mated with any degree of certainty
because of the great variation, Deepen
dent upon breed, pasturage, care, etc
while the price is equally unfxed
The farmer who gathers up his shee,
but once year, at 'shearing time, get
two to four pounds per head, for which
he realizes from Is to 80 cents, Will
the farmer who pastures and cares TO
his focks, gets a yield of ten to eigh
teen pounds per head for which b
realizes 30 to Is cents per pound. Il
the first case, theprofit, though trifing
is clear, and in the last it is subject {.
/ the charges of investment, pasturage
feed, care, etc. In the last instance
however, the flock is entitled to
credit for its fertilizing deposits OF
the farm, an item of the first impor
lance to most sections of our country
and one that is not sufficiently appre
ciated. The profits in almost ever,
instance are larger than those of mos
other branches of farm industry, ant
are not to be dispensed with by tn
skillful husbandman.
As to breeds, as before remarked
the farmer must exercise his own judg
ment, considering his locality and tn,
wants of his market. Our preference
generally, is for the Southdowns. be
lieving they combine more good quail
ties than any other. They are of goot
size, very hardy, produce an excellen
quality of wool in large quantities
and as to the quality of mutton the,
cannot be surpassed. The Cotswold i
q larger sheep, and yield long, coars,
wool in great quantity. They are alst
hardy in cur Southe IN climate. Th,
Merinois sheep of good size, and pro
dnces large quantity of very fin,
wool, which always commands q goot
price in the Northern markets; bu
there is not always a market for :
here, and the sheep have proven deli
cate in most instances in the extrem,
South. In selecting breeds the farme,
must "pay his money and take hi.
choice, "Sand he cannot make a YER,
serious mistake in taking any one O
the. breeds named. We, have hereto
| fore published numerous articles OF
the care and treatment of sheep, anc
| will continue to do SO from time tt
time. Our present object is to direc,
the attention of farmers to the impor
lance of engaging, to limited extent
in this important branch of rural in
dustry.-Rurat Southland. r's rr.i