The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1876-04-01
Sheep Rusbandry in Kansas.

Perhaps there is nothing so anomalous
in Kansas agriculture as the general alb
senee of wool-growing, pursued either
as a specially or part of general farm
ing. Mr.. Alfred Gray, in his report for
1875, tells us that even the small num-
Der of sheep, 106,22 now held in the
State seems to be diminished, there hay-
ing been reported 1854 less in 1875 than
in 1870. This seems all the more aston
ishing when we consider the generally
enterl rising character Of our farmers.
They have larbored hard, and against
inexperience and lack of manufacturing
facilities, to make fax and the castor
bean promint objects of cultivation; and
they are already talking very earnestly
of importing worms and mulberry trees
and going into silk raising on large
scale. We have watched this last en-
pertinent with no little curiosity, espec-
ially since we have noticed in late files
of japanese papers that in the Oldest OF
the silk raising States, where skilled
labor costs almost nothing, the business
has of late been far from re.nunerative.
Moreover, the Japanese government it.
self has lately imported large number
of sheep, and is about to establish schools
for the teaching of sheep husbandry in
different parts of the empire.
In view of the general absence Of wool
growing in Kansas, the inquiry very
naturally arises is Kansas naturally a
wool-growing State?. We answer unhes-
itatingly it is! In many respects our
climate is all that could be asked for
sheep raising; its dryness. and general
freedom from long continued driving.
sleet and rain storms, insures the Kansas
wool-growcr against what in the east is
not only a source of disease, but often
involves all the lambs of season in
destruction.
The vast stretches of country found
all over Kansas, known as "divides," are
almost ideal sheep walks. 1t is no ex-
aggeration to say that more grass is
grown annually upon an acre of these
Kansas lands, than upon five acres of the
famous sheep walks of California or
Australia. That the quality of these
grasses is very good will be questioned
by no one familiar with them. The
abundance and purity of the water of
Kansas, and the absence of mire and
. bog; the excellent protection afforded
by the numerous bluffs and clumps of
timber, are advantages that the sheep
husbandman will readily recognize.
Now all these advantages are to be had
for the taking. These lands are owned
mainly by the government or the rail-
roads, and that they will remain thus
for many years to come few doubt; to
get the use of them without tax or in
cumbrance, it is only necessary to occu-
Ply them. For the young man of mod
crate means, who, to taste for stock.
and especially sheep, adds diligence and
patience, we know of no opening so
promising, no business that so quickly
and certainly offers satisfactory results.
The question may occur to some is
there demand for wool and mutton in
Kansas and if so is this demand likely
to be maintained? To the first part of
this query the general markets of the
country are sufficient reply. 1t is
found profitable to ship corn and wheat
to eastern markets and certainly if these
bulky, heavy articles will bear long
transportation, this lighter and more
valuable product of our flocks will not
be excluded from the great markets of
the world. But We have abundant reas-
ons for knowing that the present num-
Der of sheep in Kansas is totally made
4uate to supply the home demand for
wool and mutton.
The proprietors of the Blue Rapids
Wooden Mills, Messrs. Cook, Chandler &
Barlow, write us that during the past
season the market has been very uni
form. They say, ave have paid for
good-conditioned, light, unwashed wool
twenty-eight to thirty cents per pound.
For very nice lots we have paid more.
The average cost of unwashed the past
season has been over thirty cents. We
get very little fleece, washed or tub, and
the condition varies 50 much that we
cannot we'll quote, but for good or ordi-
nary tub-washed have paid fifty cents
per pound" "We have manufactured
about 100000 pounds of unwashed wool,
3S,92S pounds of which came from Colo
RADIO, the balance from Kansas and
Southern Nebraska. Probably about
one-half of the amount used was from
this State"
As to the demand for mutton, it is a
well-known tact that the butchers in the
towns west of Topeka are not able to
supply their customers with mutton at
reasonable prices except at rare inter-
yals.-[ Prof. Shelton
CHICKEN PUDDING.-Take chickens,
stew them in little water, season with
colt ap6 pnppar T,Io & oro. ,,oll |