The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-03-28
Sheep for the South.

In rebuilding the prosperity OF on
Southern States there is no branch O
industry calculated to contribute NOR
certainly than sheep husbandry on
small scale. We do not wish to be I'm
derstood as advocating sheep raisin,
exclusively; but we do insi t on thi
industry forming n link in that chair
Of diversified farming, which is TIN
basis Of an independent and lasting
prosperity. We have uniformly ant
energetically thrown the whole weight
of our influence, since tho war, againsI
the almost exclusive cotton culture
which has well nigh bankrupted oul
section; 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-snstaining. In
this diversity sheep shouldhave apron
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 will know
that simply purchasing the hocks and
driving them home, without further at
tention, will result in failure and loss.
The effort will be profitable or not ac
cording to the care and intelligence
bestowed upon it, and those who are
Snot prepared or disposed to bestow
these will best let it alone.
The intelligent farmer will first de-
termine the number of sheep he is pre-
pared to care for. If he has pastur-
age for only twenty he will not go be-
You'd that number. This question set
tied, he will next direct his inquiries
to the breed best adapted to his local
ity and the wants of his market. If he
is so situated that the fleece forms the
main item OF profit, he will select that
breed the wool of which is most valua-
bic. II on the other hand, his market
offers greater profits for mutton than
wool, then he will select the breed
most productive of mutton. In either
cast economy will suggest that he buy
the common native ewes of the coun-
try which are cheap, andbring them up
to the breed desired b. carefully select
ing and purchasing such bucks as viii
lead to the end III view. Those 'Sho
have no experience will be aston;.shed
ut the rapid progress the proper care
will make III transforming a H.ock of
common ewes into beautiful Merinos,
or C~otswolds, or Southdowns, orwhat-
ever breed may be desired. Seven
cights constitutes what is termed n
"thoroughbred,' and a little calcula.
ton will show how short Il time il "a.
CURED to bring sheep to that point Of
purity.
Now rs to the profits. The increase
of sheep, with proper care, is safely
estimated at scvcnty-tive per cent. per
annum. The fleece cannot be esti-
mated with any degree of certainty,
because OF the great variation, Deepen
dent upon breed, pasturage, care, etc,
while the price is equally untixed.
The farmer who gathers up his sheep
but once a year, at shearing time, gets
two to four pounds per head, for which
he realizes from Is to 80 cents, while
the farmer who pastures and cares for
his flocks, gets II yield of ten to- eigh-
teen pounds per head for which he
realizes 30 to Is cents per pound. In
the first case, thcproiit, thpughtrifing,
is clear, and in the last ID is subject to
the charges Of investment, pasturage,
feed, care, etc. ia the last instance,
however, the flock is entitled to u
credit for its fcrtiliAing deposits on
the farm, an item of the first impor-
lance ia most sections Of our country,
and Nj that is not sufficiently appre-
0lated. The profits in almost every
instance are larger than those Of most
other branches Of farm industry, and
ARE not to be dispensed with by the
skillful husbandman.
AS to breeds, as before remarked,
the farmer must exercise his ownjudg-
mcnt, considering his locality and the
wants Of his market. Our preference,
generally, is for the Sonthdowns, be-
licving they combine more good quail
ties thnn any other. They are of good
size, very hardy, produce an excellent
quality of wool in large quantities,
and AS to the quality of mutton they
cannot be surpassed. The Cotswold is
n larger sheep, and yicla II long, coarse
wool in great quantity. They are also
in II Soutts IN climate. The
is IL shccpoi good size, and pro-
ducos n large quantity Of very fine
wool, whicl, SJwoys commands a good
price in ~ Northern markets; but
there ". apb always II market for It
here, ipd the sheep have proven deli
in most instances in the extreme
In selecting breeds the farmer
must pay his money and take his |
,hoicc,' and he cannot make 10 very
1erious mistake in taking any one of
the breeds named. We have hereto
fore published numerous articles on
,llc care and treatment Of sheep, and
will continue to do so from time to
line. Our present object is to direct
he attention of farmers to the impor-
ance of engaging, to n limited s%xtent, |
n this important branch of rlaral in |
lustTy. -hHrdi ,SOuth-Land
solid Matter In the MILK Of Animals. |
Agsns' milk nnnt,iny u,or,oI,, MIN,