The Portland daily press., 1876-10-19
THE PRESS.
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Shall sheep be Sacrificeds


The depression that prevails in the wool
market, and the unpromising outlook for re-
munerative prices, have no doubt raised the
question in the minds of no inconsiderable
number OF farmers who raise sheep, whether
it is prudent to keep their iocks intact or,
abandon this branch of husbandry. There
is no doubt that the market in wooden goods
is overstocked. Numbers of mills are idle,
while others that are in operation run on
short time. Certainly, it is not an ausplclous
period for the wooden interest, and growers
and manufacturers alike feel the pressure. 1t
is but natural under these circumstances that
the question should arise as to what should
be done in the premises.
There are those, doubtless, who will sue
cumb to the pressure, sacrlhce their sheep
and discard wool-growing altogether. That
course, in our opinion, is uDwise. 1t is pos
sible that it may not be profitable for year
or more to keep sheep for their fleeces alone,
but it is well to recollect that the value of a
flock of sheep, as every intelligent farmer
knows who has kept them, does not depend
entirely upon the price of wool. There are
other factors in the problem Of sheep hus-
bandry which must be considered in fairness,
and these should not be lost light OF now. 1t
is hardly necessary to enumerate them. we
may say, however, in passing, that good mutt
ton brings fair price, but this will decline II
large percentage of the focks now in the
country, are, after being put, into toerable
condition, hurried to the butcher.
1t is good time. however, to Gull the in
ferior sheep from the focks and prepare
these for the shambes. There are more or
less sheep that are comparatively non-pro-
ductye or yield no returns TOR keeping, and
these should be fattened and sold. A sheep
that shears less than four pounds of wool is
not worth keeping, and may. well be turned
off. Keep the best and sell the poorest, and
breed only the former kind. We believe that
sheep should be kept on the farm, no matter
what the price of wool may be, and the de-
preston ia wool which now prevails is tenn
porary. 1t will not continue always. The
countryIhas passed through similar period and
wool-growers came out with flying colors.
Those who were not frightened out of their
wits, but held steadily to the line of judicious
sheep husbandry, finally proited by the
course they pursued. History repeats itself.
We have strong faith that the conditions of
will furnish in the not far future another
proof of the truth of this apothegm.
We have remarked that the value OF sheep
on the farm does not consist wholly OF the
money realized from the wool produced /;
nevertheless, even when the price OF the
staple is low, the cash returns from its sale
come to many farmers at time when they
are much needed. The clip is marketable
lust before harvest, and it happens not I'M
frequently the money received Tor it bridges
over this important season, or at least assists
In doing so-a consideration which will hardly
be lost sight of. Let us admonish our friends
to consider the subject in all of its bearings,
keeping in mind the prominent fact that this
industry is one that the country cannot do
without. In all branches of rural industry
there are periods of depression, but it will
.k,z%~ s,n