Middletown transcript., 1875-01-09
F5r tie 1sdsser;ps.
Sheep Raising for Profit.
Letter frsn vv,lla.n Dsan.

Sheep kalnng fof front.
pss
Lstasr nrsn wiIlaan Dean.
Nh. ED1roR:-The low price Of wheat
and the frequent failure Of our fruit
crop. has caused many farmers to ask
themselves, :. What can We substitute
in tseir place to-. in part, diversity our
interests and make up for some Of our
lossesY or. in other words, will Be more
sure, and make better profit for the
farmer" While discussing the quss-
} ton in our 30 annuity. the general in-
preston prevails that sheep husbandry.
to . certain extest. would be . good
and profitable substitute Yet. when
ever we begin to think seriously about
going into the sheep culture, that al
ways present great barrier rises up IN
opposition. viz: the great number Of
worthless dogs that are kept BY persons.
many Of whom are scarcely able 70 find
food for themselves. and their dogs Of
course have to be kept at the expense
of the farming community in which they
happen to be located BY the loss Of
their sheep and poultry killed. and the
large amount Of grain and grass tram-s
pied dswn BY these same worthless
dogs.
Mr.. G.. W. Kennsy. Of the Missouri
State Agricultural Society. in his report
to the agricultural department Of the
United States. says: /" In 80 counties
Of this State 10.602 sheep were killed
in one year BY dogs. One hundred
persons have died in one year in this
State from the bite Of mad dogs. He
estimates. allowing two doss for each
family. which is less than the actual
number kept. there would be 400. 600
dogs in the Stats. The amount of fosd
necessary to support = fair-sised dog.
Z -.a g. /
will keep one hog in good. thiving CON-
ditiop. which at l2 months old will |
weigh 200 pounds making for the |
whole number Of dogs o2, 900. 600 lbs.
Of pork. This. at 8 cents per pound,
will make IS. 500. 900; nearly twice Is
much value as all the school houses in
the State. and more than twice the
amount used by the State in one year
for school purposes. -. ..5s
Nov. let every farmer in Delaware
take the above extract irto eonsidsra-
ton, and ask himself il il does not
equally apply to ourselves. ESQ. what
should BE- done to protect his interest
which is the greatest Of all interests in
our State, and probably nearly the equal
amount Of all other interests combined.
There certainly is no product Of the
farm that yields an equal return for the
amount Of food consumed and labor re-
quirsd in their attendance. There il
no ether animal that 80 soon fertilises
the soil as sheep. Let any farmer in
vest for three years in sheep the same
amount Of money that ID now invested
in fsrtiiisefs. and be will fsd at the end
Of that time. If judioiously invested. that
he will have doubled bis money and at
the same time bis land will Be moro i'm
proved than ifhe had invested in fsr-
tilisers and cropped bis farm. Il i not
recommended that farmers should at
once rsvolutionise and ehasss every
thing for sheep, but a. wheat han ceased
70 be : paying crop, substitute for il
sheep. Any farmer may buy in, The
fall OF summer proper proportisn Of
bucks and ewes for his purpose to gil
he place Of bis wheat crop At from n
% 8 dollars per head. and the probsbil-
ty is. With proper attention and care.
hey will average one lamb for sseh
'we. which lambs WILL il properly cared {
or, be worth from 4 to s dollars each. (
The wool will be worth from II to 2 .
lollars per sheep. With our great ad- .
'antags Of locality to the three great .
markets Of our country. New York, B
Philadelphia and Baltimore. a. we'll q t
'ur, own metropolis. Wilmington.r w b
lavs better location than any other b
quail amount Of territory in eur couu- i
~ for sheep culture. &
The process described can b. gone .
hrough every year. ~ there are always q
args Numbers Of western sheep driven Q
r brought ip on the cars. from which
be farmers can select such a. they
'ish. Or if any farmer feels disposed a
. cultivate the larger and more i'm. L
reved AID profitable grades Of sheep. Il
. can buy good Western ewes and an b
improved buck. and BY this process in .,
few years Of judicious cropping will j.
ct quite superior aool Of sheep from b
'hich both bis lambs and wool will e
ring greater price. II the English oi
lrmer. who pays from 2 to s Of 10 to ii
s dollars gold per acre for rent, can q
.ise wool and send it to our country, m
I'd after paying duty Of from Is to ID
90 per cent sell it in competition With q
pr domestic raised xool, Why should y.
. net With ous cheap and fertile soils b,
, able to make money 1t sheep and til
ool culture? The only impediment q
u e -