The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-03-22
sheep-R Raising in East Tennessee.
correspondence Of the Inter- Ocean.l


Although there has been no particu-
lar system of sheep-breeding or raising
in this part of the country, yet it has
long been known that the table lands Of
Cumberland County were every way
SulJed to this branch OF huSbandry for
the following reasons:
/. Because the pasturing grounds or
range Is extensive and affords q great
variety of grasses, wild pea vine, and
certain seed-bearing shrubs that sheep
luxuriate on in the late fall months.
2. Because it is an elevated country,
some thousands OF feet above the Ten
nessee Valley. Its elevation tempers
the heat Of summer, the thermometer
seldom going above ninety degrees. And
then it is SO tar south the winters are
short and mild. Like the Pyrenees
Mountains OF Spain, every condition is
met for a successful wool-growiDg
country.
8. The low price of land. The table
lands can be purchased on an average
of 81 per acre. Amid these table lands
are certain small, exceedingly fertile
valleys; these lands with some improve
mepts, apple orchards, etc., are held at
from IS to $12 per acre. These valleys
make very desirable places for winter
ling sheep. The tame grasses afford
much better pasturage in winter or sum-
mer than the low lands OF the Tennessee
Valley. When farms can be purchased
| in these small valleys, reaching out ON
she mountain or table lands, embracing
good pasture goods, at a cheap rate,
every condition is met for model sheep
| farm.
The expense of keeping sheep here,
with mild and short winters and cheap
| lands. would be between fourth and a
| third of what it would cost in New York,
Pennsylvania, or Northern Ohio. There
are a number OF woolen factories just
starting in East Tennessee, which will
Undoubtedly soon make home market
| At the present time it costs IL cents
per pound to ship wool to Cincinnati or
| Philadelphia, making it difficult for the
| North to compete with Tennessee-groW Wn
WOOL. AS soon as the Cincinnati South
ern Railroad is completed it will reduce
the price to 81 per one hundred pounds.
| AS regards the breed OF sheep best
suited to this country, would say that
two years ago last November got from
| Northern OHIO ten fair grade Spanish
merino. They have steadily improved
since the day they came here, and have
| increased to thirty. There is also ON my
place twenty-five Southdowns. A part
| of them were imported, the balance
raised here. They have also done very
well. But am inclined to think the
| fine-wooled, or sheep OF Spanish origin,
| will be more profitable than any of the
English mutton breeds. Wool will beau
/ Transportation much better than mutton
The winter has been exceedingly mild,
even for Tennessee. The meadows and
pastures are looking quite green. Few
| sheep have been ted here this winter,
and where they have had tame grass
pastures they have not needed feeding,
Peaches are in blossom, and honey
bees have been bringing in pollen fol
| three weeks. This is some earlier thar
common, but for six years honey bees
have been doing the same thing before
| the 1st OF March. We sometimes have q
cold snap here in winter, as you do there
/ in April; but have never had to break
| in or shovel snow for cattle to drink
| neither have 1 seen frost on q mans
| Whiskers since came TO Tennessee.
LORENZO STRATTON.
Grassy Cove, Cumberland Co., Tenn.