The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-11-30

Rural New Yorker, we hear complaints of
sheep being Improbable at the present
prices of wool and mutton. In several
instances we have noticed articles going
the rounds of the press headed, "What
shall we do with u sheep ?" and other
similar titles which are likely to cause
those engaged in sheep ~husbandry to be
alarmed at the future prospects of their
very important industry.
Now, it is an old saying that "straws
show which way the wind blows" and
we think there are some straws connected
with the wool interest which may be
watched in order that the farmer may
see whether it is advisable for him to
kill off, or keep his flocks. Wool is a
staple article always in demand, and for
which a certain amount of money can
be obtained, and the only question for our
farmers to decide is whether they can
produce it with profit, not by basing
their calculations upon the lowest price,
but upon the average for a series of
years. As the prices of all staple
articles are liable to fluctuations the
only safe guide in their production is to
base all calculations of profit upon
averages, and in doing this with wool we
think there are very good and substantial
reasons to be hopeful for the future. One
straw which points to a hopeful future
is the fact that we have net as yet been
able to produce all the wool required for
our own use in this country.
Last year we paid foreign countries
some $4,000, 900 for wooden goods, and
about $11, DOC, 900 for wool, and to make
up this deficiency we need some twenty
million more sheep. If our farmers com
plain of the low prices of wool, what can
they say of it in countries whence
the deficiency in our W markets is
made up. Cannot we produce weol as
cheap as the foreign producer can land
it in our markets. with all the extra ex-
pense to which he is compelled to sub
nit before placing it in competition with
the home raised article? If not, why
not? We have as cheap lands as any
nation, and as good a climate for sheep
husbsndry as can be found on the globe;
consequently, there must be something
wrong, either in the breeds or manage.
ment of focks, which makes w%ool-grow-
ing Improbable, if it is really SO, as
frequently asserted.
But we are inclined to believe that
sheep h~usbandry is as profitable as any
other branch of agriculture, and
although there may be some i" bad years."
still, upon the whole, raising wool and
mutton will yield as large returns for the
capital and labor invested as the pro-
duction of beef, pork or any of the
ordinary farm crops.
Raising wool is not so exhaustive to
land as the raising of grain, and the
difference should always be placed to the
credit of the wool crop, which, tits to be
feared, many of our farmers fail to do il
making up their accounts. The balance
sheet, if it shows only the cash part of
farmers operation with sheep, and es
pecially if it does not extend over
period of more than one or two years
| will not give a fair exhibit of eithe,
profit or loss, for fields may have beer
enriched to such an extent that they vii
give a large increase in theyield of grain
v grass, or other crops for several year
I after the sheep have been removed.
. Taking this favorable view of the sub
) ject we would not advise farmers to sci
{ or otherwise dispose of their iocks, bu
: endeavor to improve and increase tn
= number. 1t may be necessary in som
U instances to find a more economics
= method of keeping and feeding, but thi
i can readily be done by studying th
: systems practiced by the most successfl
breeders in this and other countries.