The New York herald., 1875-12-29
THE VICTORIA COLONY.
sTocK-RArsTNo N KANsAs-FARNnNd ON THE
PRAIRIEs.

FhAIRIEB.
Some three years ago. while Mr. George Grant, an
English gentleman, was travelling through the West
pleasure tour he became convinced that the land I'M
Ellis county, Kansas, eminsnty adapted to grazing
large nocks and herds and without much ado entered
into contract with the Kansas Pacific Railway for the
purchase OF 100 900 acres which he subsequently d
vided into sections or stock farms, mile square
EACH Mr.. Grant in the city yesterday in the
OF conversation with HERALD representative
furnished some very interesting information. The
most successful results, he said had attended his
erprse, and II was safe TO predict that in few years
large amounts Of capital Will flow toward carrying out
the object intendedthe raising Of improved breeds OF
sheep cattle and horses and 10 cultivate portions Of
the land according TO the most progressive farming
ideas OF modern times.
That Mr. Grants foresight and judgment have been
well rewarded is pretty thoroughly established by the
numerous applications made for tracts Of land in that
vicinity whereon to follow his example. But II should
be borne In mind that he does sell less than square
mile, or GAO acres, his intention being 10 divide his
lands into comparatively large estates thereby attract
ing men with sufficient means in order that the
try may be developed the rapidly Mr. Grant has
already disposed OF large number OF square miles
gentlemen abroad and in the States, who have already
erected elegant and substantial buildings OF stone some
OF them owning from to square miles each Mr.
Grant sells his land at from So TO $40 according to
location and convenience He has at pres,
ent about 1000 sheep principally breeding
crossed by long wool imported rams OF the highest
pedigree; over 100 English rams, principally Oxford
Downs. Cotswalds, Ieicesters. Iincons AND snp,b
Downs, have been imported by him; and having pur-
chased Colorado graded ewes for breeding the expert
ment OF crossing the merinos with the long woods
attended with very encouraging results. Apart from
the Improvement in FORM size and weight they clipped
from four and half to seven pounds Of WOOL wnicL is
much larger than that Of the native stock.
In describing the arrangements OF his vast estate and
Its surroundings Mr. Grant said that the sheep were d
vided ocks of about 900 EACH under the charge
OF separate Shepherds and remain out in the open
prairie than three-fou Of the year,
the climate being everything that could be
desired. He has erected commodous covered corrals
OF the Kansas stone, which Is found In abundance h
the neghborhood, for winter shelter. Experience has
shown him the propriey OF feeding the sheep at such
times and In stormy weather on crushed corn the
suit of which a very small death in compar.
with that which followed hay feed Mr. Grant
expects TO have his estate within five years 100 600
IN the best OF health Twice year. in June and Sep
tember he marches 10, 900 sheep through n bathing
trough four feet deep and fifteen feet long, filled with
solution of twenty pounds of tobacco and fve pounds
OF sulphur to 100 gallons OF water at temperature OF
120 degrees The sheep completely submerged and
in their efforts to get out become perfectly soaked.
They ascend to pen, from which all the
dripping flows back into the trough Twog
each day. Such bath costs about two cents
per head, and yields to the return in wool OF
additional half pound and sometimes more, besdes
freeing the sheep from scab ticks and other vermin.
Mr. Grant has over fifty ponies for his herders, and,
about many work horses, breeding and several
first class stock horses. Adjoining his estate thet
Walter Shields and others all giving promise Of salts
factory results Victoria Colony is very advantageousy
situated part OF the estate being Fort Hays,
important military post station has been erected
way Altogether the prospects are exceedingly
bright Not many years ago countless buffaoes roamed
sole denZens Of all this region. To-day handsome resi-
dences fields of grain and the finest cattle and sheep in
the country plainly indicate in what direction the
of empire moves. Mr. Grant leaves for England next
Saturday week and will return IN April next