The Cecil Whig., 1874-01-24
;M'Ehe Esarm.
Will it Pay to Grow Merino Sheep IN
Maryland.

John S. Goe writes his experience to
the American Farmer. There are
plenty of such farms as he describes,
in Cecil county, if there are any John
S. Goes left let them come to the
front. 1t is better to make a noble
effort if even the result is failure, than
fail without effort. Mr.. Goe says:
In passing through the State, one
would think the citizens either thought
not or that they did not care. l have
in view hilly farm that has been
plowed and cultivated for many years
tobacco and grain have succeeded gram;
the soil is now barren and unproduc-
tive; the former improvements are now
diapidated; the family all complain OF
the scantv income; the boys long to get
away to some other business; the girls
find many objections to farm life; those
barren hills, now scanned with great
cullies, washed and worn by the annual
rains. Dilapidation and woe present an
unpleasant figure and tell you change
is wanted; and per request will pc
ture change: Another has purchased
the farm and through his operations
the former routine has been abandoned;
100 good healthy sheep have been pur-
chased; these consist of 90 common
strong ewes, procured near home at
s.. so each, Merino rams, and & ewes,
sent for. at a cost of $50 each; these
are here collected and are well cared
for: the wool is annually sold; the
lambs are annually raised to increase
the flock, and annually the culls are
taken out and fed up until sold after
shearing, the three year old weathers
are treated the same way. Manure is
made and applied to the land; some
lime and plaster are annually bought
to help the washed places are stopped
and filled up; less ground is plowed,
and this better titled; more grass is
grown: things are fixed up, and re-
pairs are annually made; the yard is
enlarged; trees are planted; green
crops are turned under. The farm has
in time become rich and beautiful, and
the passing traveller, attracted, inquiries
what has made this change! An old
citizen has come up the road and he is
asked. and relates what has been done !;
he points to the now beautiful iiock
that has annually increased and added
their help until their home is beautiful
with the rich carpet of green.
Reader, think not this cannot te
done. 1t has been, and ample proof
thereof can be furnished. Will you
now continue in the old way, or will
YOU change? The size of your farm
does not Interfere; if small, then get
fewer sheep; if larger, then get more.
Change you must. The old way is out
of date, and all must keep up with the
times. Your common sheep will not do;
you must improve them; the Merinos
will alone make that improvement
You cannot call this mere fancy, gotten
up by q citizen Of town or city the
flock have been and are as represented,
excepting some experimental devlatlons.
Say not some lucrative business helped
me to carry this out; the reverse is the
case; l bought at high price | could
only pay one-half down, the balance
was on interest, and | had to then bor
row to start with. Say not l made
money in an outside business | did
borrow money for side business, and
lost it all Yet the Mcrinos carried
me through, and depend upon it, l will
now confne my business to them and
the farm
Brownsville, Pa. JOHN s. GoE.