The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-05-09
SHEEP RAISING.
An Essay by George Lawrence,
Rose Glen stock Farm.
STaukesha, wis.


nature, vet it is mine Of great wealth
to any farmer that adopts it as branch
of stock raising. The demand for the pro
ductions are almost inexhaustIblc, and
home demand at that. Wool and mutton
are commodities that are necessary to ev-
cry household in the land.
No animal on the farm is adapted to 50
many varied changes and different modes
of handling as the sheep. They thrive IN
the north, south, east and west; on the
mountain and in the valley they seem to
be at home.
The modes of handling are adapted to
the INDECENT and to the industrious farm
er, TO the rich and to the poor man, and
remunerate the owner accordingly. Sheep
will live on short feed and poor care,
but no stock pays larger returns for capt.
tai invested with good care than sheep
There is a mine Of wealth to any man
who owns a flock, and they pan out ac
cording to investment and expenditure OF
keeping. It matters not how prices may
hucluaGe, there is always a demand for
mutton and wool; it has in the past al
WAYS paid cost Of production and profit
10 the owner.
co,nm,.dity Of trade, and its consump
tion !. without limit. Although our
countrv is advanced in years and we'll es-
tablished, yet We cannot produce wool
enough for home demand. Our impor-
tations Of wool from foreign countries
amount to many millions OF dollars annu-
ally. We paid for wool raised III foreign
countries in eleven years, from 1901 10
1872, SIP, CAT ,377 pounds, exclusive or
shoddy, an average of %, O5S, 843 pounds
costing in gold at the point OF shipment
$50. a75. sos or So, 125, S43 per annum.
Then the importations OF 1872 were lZ2,-
256.l9g pounds, costing S26, PA, 1919,
and in 1873 We imported 80, 466,O49
hounds, costing $40, 433, 93S. Ihese are
figures from actual reports. The remain
inr wears from '73 to the end OF 10
have no records at hand, but 1t Is plainly
seen. instead Of producing wool enough
in the United States for home consump-
ton. we have not done 1t, and we are
actually falling behind, for in 1917 we
imported S18, 088, 552 worth more than
we did in tha average Of the ei6Ven years
previous to 70 In 10 there was little
falling off, but then we paid 81, 3o6,o9
more than an average. Only tor Frotec-
ton we have obtained, at the earnest
solicitation Of wool growers, and the sup
port of Congress, our annual imports
would amount to many millions Of dollars
more.
l., this vast country Of ours inferior to-
others? Have we not the broad acres OF
fertile soil, and people energetic enough
toscompete with other countries? Is 1t
because we are afraid to enter into com
petition, or afraid we cannot pay the cost
OF productions.
Articles grown from the soil, and pro
dUeed on the farm, have huctuated III
prices almost runous to the producer at
times. Wool has the most uniform price
of any article of trade. Randall IA his !
g Practical Shepherd" says, that for a |
term eff thrty-tive years from the begin
ming of 1927 to the end of 1861. line or
medium wool averaged AZ and $40 cents |
per pound since that time it has aver
aged a trihe less, but in all these long |
years has the cost of production not eX-
ceeded the price realized. The cost OF
producing wool depends on the keeping |
of sheep, and the kind kept; and those
raised in different sections, on our highest
Driced land, under judlcious system OF !
winter management, reaches about 81
per head per anuum. In the south and
southwest, the expense is maiG!y com
posed in herding, sailing and shearing, |
and when kept in large herds, the cost
xill not exceed % cents per head. With |
out doubt it would be more profitable /,
10 provide some shelter in winter and
give little feed in extreme bad weather.
1t might increase the cost III the south
and southwest to so cents per head. The
actual cost of keeping will vary between
4hese two extremes.
Our improved grade merino tiocks will
average FIVE pounds of washed wool per
head take the average price for thirty
five wears before the war, az and $40
cents per pound, we have 81. IA TO the
fleece, which would pay for the cost Of
keeping and leave the owner small
profit in money. The increase Of lambs
viii average 80 per cent. at low estl-
mate. Then the manure besides, which |
Is very great item, is to be added to the
profits Summer and winter manure OF
the sheen is far more valuable than that
of the horse or cow. On the rich ldIds |
of the west and southwest, manure is not |
reckoned rs profits, and the cost of trans !
porting wool to market is from one TO !
two cents per pound. Then the western |
wool grower gets the lamb and about |
two-thirds his fleece profit on each sheep |
Good grade mefino sheep have aver
aged 81 per head in the fall for store
sheep, aud when fat have averaged So. !
The increasing demand for mutton is
steadily increasing the price.
The lamb and the manure will about |
equal the fleece, or the increase and the |
manure will pay the keeping, leaving for
actual profit. Judging the future by the
past We need fear nothing. We have
not produced near the demand of wool |
at home, and the prices realized exceed |
the cost Of production.
Although the increase in numbers OF
sheep since 1860, up to 1876, amounts
10 Is, 464 OPS, seemingly large number,
but if we stop to consider the increased
population in that time, and the improv
ed facilities to manufacture goods, you
will see we have not reached the desired
point nor are we any nearer producing
wool enough for home consumption than
we were is years ago. Ii we could have
100000 more sheep than we now
have, we would only supply ourselves,
but when we consider the time it will
take to increase our number to those fig
ures, and the still increasing population
in this time, you will see at glance we
will not have an over production il our
time, or this generation. Protection is
the one thing needfuI to keep wool grow
inc alive in this country. When we can
produce enough for our own use, then we
can compete with the world.
Let us be nursed and fostered in our
in wool growing until We can
stand alone. Let the wool tariff remain
-. - ~ No viii chow the urnrld |