The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-04-10
Ghf 9armer,
shssp Husbandry in:pelaware.


In q previous communication to your
paper | stated that from my own know
ledge, and from information got from my
nsIghbos, that sheep husbandry would
pay 10 our section Of the country much
better than any other branch Of agricultu-
raj pursuits carried on in our locality. In
that instance ! gave the account only Of
those persons who were in the habit Of
buying Western ewes in the Summer and
FAN seasons and keeping them until the
following Summer, and then, after raising
their lambs, feeding them off for the
butcher ! think in the communication
referred 70 | showed to any unpreiudiced
mind that that method Of sheep husbandry
would pay. Now | viii give you an ex-
ample Of an English sheep husbandman
who came to this country some four or
FIVE years since, and brought with him at
that time some thirty odd thousand dol
lars in gold, also wife aud dozen or
more fine healthy children; aud if some Of
that cracking fraternity styling themselves
"Tha National Association Of Wooden
Manufacturers and Wool Growers" would
just take trip to the Diamond State and
look at his sheep aud farm, and ask him q
few questions in reference to the profta-
bleness Of sheep husbandry, and listen to
his replies to their questions, they would
come to the conclusion, that sheep husban-
dry could be carried on proftably in this
country without protection, and would also
conclude that they themselves were set
Of great fools--or otherwise they thought
the rest Of the people Of our country were
land that they under the circumstances
could make the people. believe just what
they pleased. Now let me give you my
friend. VIM. Homework, Esq. experience
in sheep husbandry in Delaware. He has
a farm Of some three hundred acres pur-
chased at the rate Of about $50 per acre,
upon one field Of which when he bought
il three years since he could not keep one
sheep per acre without giving feed from
other portions Of his farm, and the first
season the sheep which he kept in that
field netted him at the rate Of 81 per acre
the first year and without single cent Of
money spent for fertilizers or any other
manuring, except the keeping of his sheep
upon il. That field now keeps two sheep
to the acre, or 100 sheep on that field Of
80 acres. Therefore, if when that field
would not keep SO sheep it melted 81 per
acre, it is easily to be seen what profit he
is getting now, not to say anything about
the increased value Of his land. But
while this field is paying hun SO well with
so small an amount Of outlay, the balance
Of his farm requires an immense amount
Of labor and docs not yield anything like
the amount Of profit He has now upon
bis farm some 200 sheep Of the finest
quality Of wool for combing purposes. He
says it pays him best to raise his own
stock, and for which purpose he has trav-
eled over our country and Canada in search
Of the finest bucks that he can get for
breeding from and improving his stock.
His wethers at year old for Strengthening
viii bring him ten dollars each, while he
has supply Of bucks for sale for improv-
Ing the sheep of our country.
He says his present flock win everage
'ix to seven pounds Of wool (washed) per
sheep, which, at the present price, say from
80 to So cents, is easily calculated. His
ambs viii sell readily when ready for sale
It six dollars each. He says he intends
o still further improve his field by con-
'inuing pastaring il, and eventually ex-
poets to farm for wheat, corn, oats, &c.
but a small portion Of his land, yc. from |
hat small portion he expects a greater
mount than he now gets, the balance to !
BE- in grass for pasturiug sheep. He as
'erts that BY proper attention ia the stock
'aised from he is getting much harder
nee Of sheep. He tells me that. he has
lbout fifty Western sheep, bought in the
Fall, and which at the present time re-
quire housing, while his home raised sheep
are out in the field atall times, both night
and day. He tells me that he made his
money at sheep raising in Kent, England,
On land for which he paid e3 sterling rent,
and sold his wool clean washed at an aver
age Of 20 pence per pound, or about two
thirds the price Of such woods III our coun-
ny at the present time, and that was done
u country where there was no protec-
ton for The wool growers. And yet the
small territory Of England, with her high
priced land, can raise as mach wool, and
It the presents time has as many sheep as
all the United States, and can make money
- il and sell il IN competition with the
cheapest products Of the world, If this
we're not 10 ID could not be sold in the
English markets, for shey are open and