The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-07-08
Sheep and Hogs.

In a recent issue the Leavenworth TINES
urges the farmers of Kansas TO make sheep
raising the leading interest of the State, and
! presents a number OF forcible arguments
Why they should do so. A farm can be
Stocked with sheep at less expense than
With hogs or cattle. 1t costs little to keep
them, and the return from them is regular
and certain. Besides, sheep are well adapt
ed TO the dry climate and high airy prairies
of Kansas, and suffer little from disease.
Indeed, we are told by gentleman who
{ has had much experience in sheep keeping
in the Western and Middle States thai
there is no disease as vet known TO which
they are subject in Kansas. or the adjacent
parts of Missouri. They thrive here better
than in any other country on this continent
where their culture has been attempted, not
excepting New Mexico, and yield as large
! fleece.
While these are facts in regard to sheep
culture in Kansas and Western Missouri,
! il must be borne in mind also that sheen
are a more delicate animal than hogs, and
that the profit of their keeping depends
much more upon the intelligence and skill
with which they are kept. The business
has never been 50 general among farmers
OF any part of the country that they gener-
ally understand it, and there is danger
that sn attempt TO adopt il extensively and
make it leading interest would not prove so
successful as the natural adaptability of the
country would seem 70 warrant, owing TO
/ the lack OF detailed knowledge bv farmers.
| 1t should be introduced, however, but care
fully and gradually.
The farmers of Kansas and Western Mis-
souri want stock that requires less care,
that can he depended upon for more speedy
returns, and one that will chiefly require
corn-the great staple product of the coun-
try. No other class of stock SO well meets
this requirement as hogs. The country,
owing TO the light corn crop of last year,
and the consequent extensive disposition OF
stock hogs, needs restocking, but it will
pay farmers well to do il, even at the pres
ent high prices. In selecting stock for ear
~ returns, there are several considerations
khat should determine the farmers choice
IN favor of hogs; 1t is no experiment. for
my farmer understands ali about
fhe business; they eat corn, which
q the chief product of the country, and
Which cannot be disposed OF to such advan-
:age in any other way; they always COM
nand good prices, and the cities Of West
I'm Missouri and Kansas are all more or
es prepared Tor packing, which secures
zaluable and steady market.
In this connection Il is proper to recall
% the attention of farmers facts published
n these columns nearly two wears AGO
Corn sold as much in the Kansas CITY mar.
get in the year 1871, 1872 and 1873, at an
tverage for the three years of twenty-five
tents per bushel fed TO hogs at the average
vice OF hogs for the same three years, it
would have been worth forty-:wo cents per
tashel. Kansas or Missouri farmers cam
rot raise any other crop TO so good advan-
tage Is corn; they cannot dispose of corn TO
80 good an advantage in any other was
By feeding 10 to hogs.-Kdaas Ci,y Jour