The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-07-04

Wisconsin, Eli StiIsUn read paper
on sheep husbanelTy -subatantial-
the same as that read before the |
State Agricultural convention at
Madisop-of which we give the |
following very brief note:
Mr.. Stilson prefaccd his paper |
with the statement that his theory |
vas that we should build up all |
farm industries To which our soil |
and circumstances are adapted. |
1t Is a great evil that our people
are So mnch engaged in special |
t es. He did not wish 10 oppose
or bear down single industry.
Let us not kill a single cow, nor
one of our nearly 10000, 900 sheep.
Wool-growing and wooden man
ntactnrlng are among the most
important interests of the country.
Wool growing is now ON a health.
full basis. Wool growing should
be followed as a part of mixed
husbandry. Sheep, of all animals.
are best adapted to improve lands
The United state. produce asont
one tenth of the wool of this world
England produces one ninth.
| Wool production calls manufac-
lures to yonr doors, and thus
builds up all branches OF industry
giving the farmer q home market
for his products. Wool can he
very cheapIy transported, much
more so than the grains, ETC., but
we should endeavor to build home
markets.
There are hundreds Of races of
sheep, but few of them are of
special interest to the American
farmers. Among the Down family
the Southdown stands first. They
are most priced for their fine NUT
ton; are not so valuable for their
wool, the fieeces being neither very
heavey nor of the most popular
style of wool.
The eombing woods are produced
by the Cotswold, Leicester, Lin
coin and other breeds. The e
sheep arc of large size and stand
second to the Downs for the pro
duction of mutton, while they are
more valuable for wool. The
combing woods are now in good de-
mand and will probably continue
to bring good prices. The sheep
of these breeds require to be wei
cared forand do not thrive in very
: large fiocks. @
. The Merinos produce clothing
, woods and will continue to be the
: sheep in largest demand. They
: produce more wool for the food
? consumed than any other breed
They now produce more secured
: wool than their ancestors did O
washed wool
! Wool growing requires constant
attention, not hard work, but care
3 full, constant supervision. Th,
!, sheep must be well fed, but should
/. not be crowed. They should have
: good shelter. In breeding, us,
e only full blOoded males, and thes,
carefully selected. Close in-and
; in breeding reduces the size of tn,
= sheep, but increases the fineness o
, wool. This mode of breeding i:
r uDsaf-, except in the hands of ex
5 perts.
RI Mr.. StiIson, who has kept from
!, 1000 TO 1000 Merino sheep for
r number of years past, states that hi
4 sheep have about paid their wa,
8 with him for eight years, NO
r counting 1864 when he sold his WOO
8 for 81 a pound, leaving the manur
1 as profit. He estimates that it vii
i require 81 per head, during a serie
v of years as the cost of the labo
t and board TO cut the hay, and grow
h the corn, and take entire charge o
Q the sheep, including washing ant
{ shearing. One acre will keep tire,
: Merino sheep summer and winter
The average production of light
white, washed wool is placed at ~.
pounds, and the average price at 81
cents per pound, which price he ha
averaged. On land worth $50 pc
acre, with sheep worth $3.50 ant
8 lambs 81, he finds that sheep vii
q repay interest at per cent. and al
/ expenses, leaving manure as profit
! The estimate is certainly not extrav
/ agant.